Chivas vs América: lineups set for Clásico Nacional as Guadalajara seeks to stay perfect
The Clásico Nacional arrives in Jornada 6 with high stakes: Chivas, unbeaten and leading the Clausura 2026 table, travel to the Estadio Akron to face América on Saturday, February 14. Kickoff is scheduled for 10: 07 PM ET. Lineups have been released and the game promises to test whether Guadalajara can consolidate top spot while América chases consistency.
Confirmed lineups for the derby
Coaches have set their starting XIs. Guadalajara lines up with a blend of youth and experience aimed at preserving an unblemished start to the campaign, while América will attempt to steady a mixed opening to the season and push up the table.
Chivas (expected): Raúl Rangel; Diego Campillo, José Castillo, Daniel Aguirre, Bryan González; Richard Ledezma, Omar Govea, Rubén González; Efraín Álvarez, Roberto Alvarado, Armando González.
América (expected): Luis Malagón; Sebastián Cáceres, Israel Reyes, Cristian Borja, Kevin Álvarez; Rodrigo Dourado, Jonathan Dos Santos, Isaías Violante; Víctor Dávila, Brian Rodríguez, Henry Martín.
Match context, form and key storylines
Guadalajara enter the fixture perched on the summit of the standings with 15 points from five matches, having scored 10 and conceded four. Their most recent league outing was a 2-1 victory away at Mazatlán, a result that extended their unbeaten run and reinforced their claim as title contenders.
América arrive with a more uneven ledger—eight points from two wins, two draws and a loss—and sit around mid-table. The team secured its first win of the campaign in Matchday 4 and followed up with a solid display against Monterrey last round. They also advanced to the knockout stages of the continental competition this week after eliminating Olimpia, an outcome that could boost confidence heading into the derby.
Beyond league form, past recent encounters between these rivals have been tightly contested, with both clubs exchanging wins in domestic and continental meetings. That history suggests a derby where momentum, individual moments and tactical adjustments will decide the outcome rather than a runaway performance.
What to watch during the game
Midfield battles and transitional speed will likely determine the flow. Chivas will rely on the creativity of Efraín Álvarez and Roberto Alvarado to unlock defenses and on Armando González for finishing. América will counter with a compact midfield anchored by Rodrigo Dourado and Jonathan Dos Santos, while Víctor Dávila and Brian Rodríguez provide pace and directness in attack.
Defensively, both goalkeepers and backlines will be under scrutiny. Chivas have combined solidity with opportunistic attacking, while América will need to eliminate lapses that have cost them in recent matches.
Early in the fixture there was a notable chance for Guadalajara: a quick approach to goal ended with Armando González sending a gilt-edged opportunity over the crossbar, a miss that underlines how fine margins will matter in this rivalry.
Expect tactical tweaks as the game unfolds. Managers may look to exploit wide areas, hunt second balls from set pieces and rotate attacking patterns to unsettle opponents. Discipline and game management in the final 20 minutes could be decisive, especially if the match remains close on the scoreboard.
With kickoff at 10: 07 PM ET at the Estadio Akron, the Clásico Nacional stands as one of the weekend's most anticipated fixtures in the Clausura. Whether Guadalajara can protect their perfect start or América can halt that run will have immediate implications for the title race and squad morale moving forward.
