The rivalry between Chivas and Cruz Azul has given Mexican soccer fans memorable moments, from regular phase matches to a great final that ended in the hands of Guadalajara.
Passion and dedication characterize the duels in which the red-and-white and the blue-and-blue meet, while generating great expectation due to the popularity of both teams. These teams will face each other this Saturday in the red and white capital, so we look back at 5 great occasions in the history of Chivas vs Cruz Azul.
1986-1987 Final
One of the most spectacular finals in Mexican soccer took place in the mid-1980s. Chivas, leaders of the competition, and Cruz Azul, runners-up, faced each other for the title that season. The Rebaño left Monterrey and Puebla in their wake, while the Cementeros did the same with Tecos and Atlético Morelia.
The first leg at the Azteca Stadium went 2-1 to the team from the capital, but with an unforgettable performance by 'Sheriff' Quirarte and 'Yayo' De la Torre, Alberto Guerra's team lifted their ninth league title.
History of the final
In that season, also at the home of La Máquina, Chiverío showed the potential that would lead them to win the crown. The score in that regular phase duel was overwhelming for the team from Guadalajara, who took the points with a resounding 5-1 win thanks to 'Yayo' and company.
Heroic comeback
One of the most memorable matches in the final phases of the First Division is the one played by the Rebaño Sagrado in the 2003 Clausura. After losing 4-1 at the Estadio Azul in the first leg of the Playoffs, with Omar Bravo scoring the goal, the red and white team was obliged to get a good result at home.
Against all odds, especially when Francisco Palencia's goal put them behind, the 'Tiburón' Sánchez, Bravo, Johnnie García, and Jair García appeared to replicate the score in the second leg and thus qualify for the Quarter-Finals of that semester.
Vibrant tie
With Efraín Flores on the bench, Chivas and Cruz Azul offered a tremendous spectacle on the opening day of the 2009 Clausura. The Estadio Jalisco pitch witnessed a 3-3 draw between two of the best teams in the tournament.
El Rebaño took the lead with a brace from Carlos Ochoa, but the Celestes managed to turn the score around before the end of the first half. The red-and-whites came out with double the intensity and quickly scored the third, which was the definitive result.
Power to power triumph
Date 13 of the 2004 Clausura brought the two teams from Guadalajara and the capital city face to face at the Jalisco Stadium. As soon as the match got underway, Cruz Azul took the lead through César Delgado, but Chiverío soon responded with a goal by Alonso 'Negro' Sandoval. Once again, La Máquina took the lead with another goal by Delgado before halftime.
In the second half, the team led by Hans Westerhoff recovered despite conceding the third goal and turned it around with a goal by 'Ramoncito' Morales and a brace by 'Bofo' Bautista, thus sealing the 4-3 win at the Coloso de la Calzada Independencia.
