Clásico Capitalino

Lore & Background

In Mexico the match is often perceived as the representation of a struggle between two antagonistic powers and institutions: Club América has always been regarded as the club of the establishment and the wealthy, owned by the multimedia mass media company Televisa. Pumas, representing the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, identifies itself as the club of the intellectuals and middle-class. Pumas were originally an amateur club of college students from the University's several schools and then developed into a professional team; the nickname Pumas was inspired by coach Roberto 'Tapatio' Mendez. Club América self-proclaimed Las Águilas, wanting an animal representing pride and domination. They are also called Los millonetas, a derogatory reference to millionaire, started when Emilio Azcarraga Milmo bought América in 1959 and told his players, 'I do not know much about football, but I do know a lot about business, and this, gentlemen, will be a business.' Azcarraga hired Guillermo Cañedo de la Bárcena and hired notable figures focusing on money; Universidad Nacional instead employed 'La cantera universitaria', a youth development system. The rivalry is particularly fierce from Pumas's side: most of their supporters consider América their main rival, while most of América's fans see it as important but deem the match against Chivas as more important.

In Their Own Story

The bus is late. It is always late before a Clásico, and the driver knows it, and the fans in the back row are already singing, already drunk on the anticipation that has built all week in the cantinas and the factory canteens. The blue end of the Azteca is filling like a tide—thousands of shirts, a single colour, a single heartbeat. Someone in row twelve is holding up a banner that reads LA MÁQUINA NO SE DETIENE, and the guy next to him is already three tequilas deep, eyes red, grinning like a man who has been waiting for this match since he was nine years old. Across the pitch, the white-green section is a different animal: more orderly, more choreographed, the Eagles' crest painted on a hundred foreheads. The referee checks his watch. The ball is placed at the centre spot. And for ninety minutes, Mexico City forgets every other argument it has ever had and argues only this one: blue or white-green, worker or student, who this city really is. The first touch of the ball is barely a touch. It is a declaration of war.

Reader's Guide

The first match between the teams after Pumas' promotion to the Primera División was on 1 July 1962, where América won 2–0. For the 1966–67 season, América moved to the Estadio Azteca; the first meeting there on 19 August 1966 saw América win 5–1. On 1 December 1966, Pumas defeated América 4–1 at the Estadio Olímpico. In the 1969–70 season, América acquired forward Enrique Borja, causing controversy; Borja initially refused but later played and became an idol. The rivalry peaked in the 1980s with three finals: the 1984–85 final (América won 3–1 in a third match), the 1987–88 final (América won 4–2 on aggregate), and the 1990–91 final (Pumas won, with a free kick by Ricardo 'Tuca' Ferretti, securing their third title).

Did You Know?

• The Estadio Azteca and Estadio Olímpico Universitario are only about 1.1 miles apart.
• Pumas' nickname was inspired by coach Roberto 'Tapatio' Mendez, who compared his players to pumas.
• América is owned by Televisa, reinforcing its image as the club of the establishment.
• The 1990–91 final was decided by a free kick from Brazilian Ricardo 'Tuca' Ferretti.