LIGA MX
Chivas–Cruz Azul: what is the head-to-head record?
Ahead of this weekend’s Liga MX clash, we reflect on the number of wins and history behind this long rivalry.
The cold numbers show that Cruz Azul has an advantage over Chivas del Guadalajara in the history of this rivalry that dates back over half a century and where La Máquina maintains a total of 54 victories to 44 for Chivas across the 144 encounters they have met since the 1965 season. There are many precedents that have enriched this rivalry since that 7-1 win that the Cruz Azul handed Guadalajara in the 1965-66 season with a great afternoon from José Luis Guerrero, aka El Gorras, with four goals, two from Fernando Bustos and one from Héctor Pulido, who responded to the opening goal by Javier “Cabo” Valdivia.
Chivas vs Cruz Azul compared
From that moment on, the rivalry was taken to other levels and that has been enriched with matches such as in the final of the 1986-87 season when the Rebaño Sagrado won 3-0 at the Azteca on a memorable afternoon for Los Cementeros’ goalkeeper Pablo Larios who made the victory of the Guadalajaras more complicated and prevented a more embarrassing defeat.
And what can we say about that historic comeback of Chivas in the playoffs of the Clausura 2003 tournament when Los Cementeros achieved a 4-1 win at the Azul stadium, with two goals from Juan Carlos Cacho, one from Francisco Palencia and another from Alejandro Corona, while Omar Bravo appeared for Chivas.
This is how they arrived at the Jalisco Stadium on Sunday May 25, 2003 where Chivas somehow managed to flip the game to eliminate La Máquina with goals from Joel Sánchez, Omar Bravo, Johnnie García and Jair García, despite the fact that Juan Francisco Palencia had put the light-blues ahead to move to a 5-1 aggregate scoreline and make Chivas’ feat even more heroic.
Ahead of this weekend’s duel on matchday 16 of the Clausura 2023 tournament Chivas sit in fourth place on 28 points, seven above Cruz Azul. What’s more, La Máquina not only has the advantage since 1965, but in the short tournaments since the winter tournament (Torneo de Invierno) of 1996 tournament in the 59 games they also edge it, having recorded 18 wins versus 17 losses with 24 draws. All to play for.
Which players have played for both Chivas and Cruz Azul?
Despite the rivalry, there is rather a long list of players who have worn both shirts. Here’s a selection:
- Goalkeepers: Eduardo Fernandez, Celestino Morales, Jesus Corona
- Defenders: Javier Sánchez Galindo, Sergio Rubio, Guadalupe Castañeda, Omar Rodríguez, David Mendoza, Israel López, Edoardo Isella, Salvador Carmona, Aarón Galindo, Francisco Flores, Adrián Cortés, Jair Pereira, Francisco Javier Rodríguez, José Madueña.
- Midfielders: Raúl Arias, Guillermo Mendizábal, José Manuel de la Torre, Jaime Ordiales, Benjamín Galindo, Francisco Javier Mora, Marco Garcés, Gonzalo Pineda, Israel Castro, Xavier Báez, Sergio Nápoles, Carlos Peña, Orbelín Pineda, Alexis Gutiérrez**.
- Forwards: José Luis Pérez, Eugenio Constantino, Luis Flores, Octavio Muciño, Rafael Hernández Pat, José Luis Caballero, Hugo Rodríguez, Pedro Pineda, Eustacio Rizo, Everaldo Begines, Sergio Pacheco, Carlos Hermosillo, Emilio Mora, Jair García, Francisco Palencia, Isaac Romo, Jared Borgetti, Miguel Sabah, Omar Bravo, Alejandro Vela, Marco Fabián, Erick Torres, Carlos Fierro.