Chivas Lead Liga MX as Clásico Nacional Nears Kickoff

Chivas sit top of the Apertura 2026 table with 17 points as the 265th Clásico Nacional against América kicks off Saturday at Estadio Banorte.

The 265th edition of Mexican soccer's biggest rivalry kicks off Saturday, September 19 at 9:15 p.m. Central time at Estadio Banorte, with both teams fighting near the top of the Apertura 2026 standings. According to Sports Illustrated, Guadalajara holds second place with 17 points, while América sits third with 16. Per TUDN, Chivas claimed the league lead after Jornada 8, one point clear of both Toluca and América, who are separated by goal difference. The match is part of Jornada 9, with América still holding a pending Week 7 game against Tijuana rescheduled for late October.

Sports Illustrated highlights three key men on each side. For América, veteran goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota has taken over after Luis Ángel Malagón's March injury, playing five of seven matches with two clean sheets; winger Brian Rodríguez leads the club with three goals; and Colombian signing Miguel Borja scored just 12 minutes into his debut in the Clásico Joven against Cruz Azul. For Chivas, young striker Santiago Sandoval, elevated from the cantera after Armando 'Hormiga' González left for Europe, has three goals including a double against Pumas. Roberto 'Piojo' Alvarado leads the club with four goals, top-five in the Liga MX scoring chart, and Raúl 'Tala' Rangel has kept at least four clean sheets.

The recent head-to-head record favors the visitors. According to TUDN, Chivas are unbeaten in three straight league meetings with América since a 1-0 Apertura 2024 win, and their last five league clashes read: Chivas 1-0 (Clausura 2026), Chivas 2-1 at the Banorte (Apertura 2025), a 0-0 draw (Clausura 2025), and two 1-0 América wins before that. TUDN also notes Chivas' last visit to Estadio Banorte ended 2-1 with goals from Alvarado and González, and that coach Gabriel Milito has won every Clásico Nacional since arriving in Liga MX. Chivas also bring a seven-match unbeaten run, while América fell to Cruz Azul last week.

Beyond bragging rights, the result could reshape the top of the table, where TUDN reports only one point separates the leaders from third place. Kickoff is set for 9:15 p.m. Central in Mexico — 11:15 p.m. Eastern, 10:15 p.m. Central and 8:15 p.m. Pacific in the United States. In Mexico the match airs on Canal 5, TUDN and ViX, while US viewers can watch on Univision, TUDN, tudn.com, the TUDN app and ViX. América will look to snap Chivas' dominance in the rivalry and reclaim momentum, while Guadalajara can solidify its hold on first place with a fourth straight unbeaten result against its eternal rival.