Guadalajara - América: Chivas keep perfect start with 1-0 Clásico Nacional win
Chivas reinforced their dominance in the Clausura 2026 by beating América 1-0 in the Clásico Nacional at Estadio Akron on Saturday, February 14, 2026 (10: 07 PM ET). Armando González netted the only goal, preserving Guadalajara's perfect record and leaving América searching for answers in the early league table.
Key moments and match flow
The decisive action arrived in the 41st minute when Chivas capitalized on a set-piece situation. A corner saw a flick-on that dropped into the danger zone; González attacked the ball at the near post and steered a header to the far post to break the deadlock. Earlier in the half he had squandered a clear chance, sending a shot over the crossbar, but he made no mistake when the opportunity reappeared.
From the opening whistle Guadalajara looked the more threatening side, creating opportunities down both flanks and limiting América's ability to produce sustained attacking sequences. América struggled to find rhythm in the final third and missed the presence of a sidelined wide attacker, which blunted their usual tempo and cutting edge.
With the win Chivas extended their run to six straight victories and remain unbeaten in the tournament. The result keeps them firmly at the top of the table, while América slipped toward mid-table after another underwhelming offensive display.
Lineups, tactics and implications
Chivas lined up with a XI that combined defensive solidity and quick transitions: Raúl Rangel in goal; Diego Campillo, José Castillo, Daniel Aguirre and Bryan González across the back; a midfield trio of Richard Ledezma, Omar Govea and Rubén González; and Efraín Álvarez, Roberto Alvarado and Armando González leading the attack. The balance between creative midfielders and forward runs allowed Guadalajara to overload wide areas without compromising defensive cover.
América started with Luis Malagón in goal; Sebastián Cáceres, Israel Reyes, Cristian Borja and Kevin Álvarez in defense; Rodrigo Dourado, Jonathan Dos Santos and Isaías Violante in midfield; and Víctor Dávila, Brian Rodríguez and Henry Martín up front. The setup aimed to control possession through central midfield but lacked consistent service into the box, forcing the forwards to chase second balls rather than construct clear openings.
For Chivas, the victory reinforces a campaign built on clinical finishing and a compact defensive structure. Armando González’s goal was his fifth of the tournament and his second consecutive strike in the Clásico, underlining his growing influence in high-stakes matches. The win leaves Guadalajara two victories shy of matching the club's best start in a short tournament era.
América, now sitting outside the immediate top positions, must address its offensive productivity. Missed chances and the absence of a key wide option hindered their plan; improvements in the final third and sharper link-up play will be necessary to climb back up the standings as the season progresses.
Looking ahead
Chivas will travel the momentum of this result into their next fixtures, with the squad and coaching staff aiming to maintain the unbeaten run and chase the club’s historical benchmark. América faces a brief but urgent reset to rediscover offensive fluency and resolve injury concerns that have affected squad selection.
The Clásico Nacional once again delivered drama and narrative: a single goal settled a passionate rivalry and shifted the early trajectory of both clubs in the Clausura campaign.
