Guadalajara - América: Chivas win 1-0 as Armando González decides Clásico Nacional
The Clásico Nacional produced its familiar drama Saturday, February 14, 2026 — 10: 07 p. m. ET — as Guadalajara edged América 1-0 at Estadio Akron. Armando González struck in the 41st minute to extend Chivas' perfect start; the victory left Guadalajara unbeaten after six rounds and atop the standings.
González delivers again
Armando González continued his strong run in the rivalry, converting a set-piece finish at the near-post in the 41st minute after a corner was flicked on into the box. The finish — his second consecutive Clásico goal and his fifth of the tournament — proved decisive as Chivas defended the narrow margin for the remainder of the match.
The goal illustrated Guadalajara's growing confidence and efficiency. Chivas controlled large swaths of possession and moved the ball with purpose in the attacking third, creating opportunities that culminated in the corner sequence that González capitalized on. The forward has been a consistent outlet for the rojiblancos, rarely missing the scoresheet this campaign.
Tactical takeaways and table implications
The win extended Chivas' near-flawless run: six wins from six matches and 18 points, the club's best start in recent memory and just two victories shy of matching the historic opening from 2010. The side under Argentine leadership has displayed balance between a sturdy backline and incisive movement up front, traits that have underpinned their climb to the top of the table.
For América, the match exposed ongoing attacking issues. The visitors struggled to generate clear-cut chances and missed the spark of key contributors, with an attacking unit that failed to translate possession into meaningful opportunities. A recent injury concern ruled an important wide player out of the fixture, dampening the team's options and forcing tactical adjustments that did not pay off in Guadalajara.
The defeat halted América's mini-run of form and left them in the lower half of the table with eight points after six rounds, raising questions about offensive cohesion as the season reaches its first international break window.
Lineups and notable absences
Starting XI — Guadalajara: Raúl Rangel; Diego Campillo, José Castillo, Daniel Aguirre, Bryan González; Richard Ledezma, Omar Govea, Rubén González; Efraín Álvarez, Roberto Alvarado, Armando González.
Starting XI — América: Luis Malagón; Sebastián Cáceres, Israel Reyes, Cristian Borja, Kevin Álvarez; Rodrigo Dourado, Jonathan Dos Santos, Isaías Violante; Víctor Dávila, Brian Rodríguez, Henry Martín.
Roster choices reflected clear game plans from both benches: Guadalajara prioritized a compact defensive block that could spring quick transitions, while América sought control through midfield possession. The absence of a key wide attacker limited América's ability to stretch Guadalajara's lines and generate the penetration needed to trouble the hosts.
Chivas now head into the next set of fixtures buoyed by momentum and a confident goalscorer in González. América must regroup and address attacking inconsistencies quickly if they are to climb the table and chase continental ambitions later in the season.
