Clásico Tapatío

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The rivalry was born shortly after the founding of Atlas in August 1916. Club Deportivo Guadalajara was founded in May 1906. The two clubs are from the same city, and there was a difference of social class: Guadalajara were followed by the middle class, while Atlas represented the upper class because its founders came from wealthy families and learned football in their travels as students to the United Kingdom. The first encounter was a friendly shortly after Atlas was founded, ending 0–0. The first tournament match was in the Torneo de Primavera of 1917, where Atlas won 2–1 despite complaints of bad refereeing by Chivas. Chivas were so angered that they refused to play in the next Liga Amateur de Jalisco tournament of 1917–18 unless the president of refereeing, Justo García Godoy, resigned; when he did not, Chivas refused to join. After the tournament, Atlas had won their first amateur league and the leader of the collegiate resigned. Chivas then challenged Atlas to a series of three matches. Each team won one of the first two by a single goal, and Atlas won the third; there were complaints that Atlas used seven substitutions from the no longer existent Club Colón. A legend claims the first match was 18–0 for Atlas, but the first reference is a newspaper note published about 50 years later, and there is no data to confirm the confrontation. In 1955, Chivas goalkeeper Jaime 'Tubo' Gómez, after being insulted by fans, sat next to a goalpost reading a magazine in mockery after Chivas led 5–0. Atlas and Guadalajara have faced twice in playoffs, both in quarter-finals: in summer 2000, Chivas advanced by tying both matches 1–1 due to better league position; in the Opening Tournament 2004, Atlas eliminated Chivas 4–3 on aggregate. In both games, Guadalajara failed a winning penalty kick. Neither team advanced past the semi-finals on either occasion.

In Their Own Story

In 1955, a unique incident highlighted the tension during a match where Guadalajara goalkeeper Jaime "Tubo" Gómez faced heavy insults from fans. With Chivas leading 5–0 and an easy victory in sight, "Tubo" requested a magazine from someone outside the field. He then sat next to one of the goalposts and began reading it, mocking Atlas faithful in clear defiance. Decades later, in the playoffs, the rivalry saw two quarter-final meetings. In the summer tournament 2000, Chivas advanced after tying both encounters 1–1, advancing on better general table position; Guadalajara failed to convert a winning penalty kick. Three and a half years later, in the Opening Tournament 2004, Atlas exacted revenge with a global marker of 4–3, again forcing Guadalajara to miss a decisive penalty. Neither team advanced past the semi-finals that year.

Reader's Guide

Official matches include Liga Amateur de Jalisco, Copa México, Campeón de Campeones, Primera División, Play-In, and Playoffs. Statistics updated 13 August 2022 include P (matches played), WA (wins for Atlas), WG (wins for Guadalajara), D (draws), GoalA (goals for Atlas), GoalG (goals for Guadalajara). In total there were 44 games where the result is unknown.

Did You Know?

• The first encounter between the clubs was a friendly shortly after Atlas was founded, ending 0–0.
• The first tournament match was in the Torneo de Primavera of 1917, not the 1916–17 Liga Amateur de Jalisco season.
• Chivas boycotted the 1917–18 Liga Amateur de Jalisco tournament because the refereeing president Justo García Godoy did not resign.
• A legend of an 18–0 Atlas victory is unconfirmed, with the first reference appearing about 50 years later.
• In 1955, Chivas goalkeeper Jaime 'Tubo' Gómez read a magazine by the goalpost in mockery after leading 5–0.