Big Four (Mexico)

In Mexican football, the Big Four (Spanish: Cuatro Grandes) is a group of four clubs: América, Guadalajara, Cruz Azul, and Universidad Nacional. They are considered to be the most popular and successful sides in Mexico football.[1][2]

As of the 2020–21 season all four clubs play in the Liga MX, top-flight football league in Mexico.[3]

Clubs
Location of the Big Four Liga MX football clubs
Greater Mexico City Liga MX football clubs

Mexico City is home to three members of the Liga MX Cuatro Grandes. América, Cruz Azul and the Universidad Nacional have gloried pasts, with 28 Liga MX titles among them. Guadalajara located in Zapopan brings the total count of Liga MX titles between them to 40.[1] [4][2] [5]

Club City Founded Stadium Capacity
América Mexico City 1916 Azteca 81,070
Cruz Azul Mexico City 1927 Azteca 81,070
Guadalajara Zapopan 1906 Akron 46,232
Universidad Nacional Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City 1954 Olímpico Universitario 58,445

Rivalries

El Súper Clásico
Main article: El Súper Clásico (Mexico)

Chivas has developed two important rivalries over the years. Perhaps its most intense rivalry is with Mexico City-based Club América. Their meetings, which have become known as El Súper Clásico, are played at least twice a year and signal a national derby. Both are the most successful and most popular teams in Mexico. The first confrontation between them ended with a victory for Guadalajara with a score of 3–0.The rivalry began to flourish after the second match when Club América defeated Guadalajara with a score of 7–2. Although the huge defeat sparked embarrassment within Chivas, it was almost two decades before the rivalry became The Clásico. One of the very reasons why these two teams are archrivals is because in 1983 and 1986 they brawled with each other, raising excitement among the fans. Thus, every time they play it is considered a match that everyone will remember. To this day, El Clásico de Clásicos continues to raise huge excitement in the whole country as well as in other parts of the world where there are fans of either team. The intensity of the game is lived so passionately that every time these two teams play a game, regardless of what position they are in on the charts or what level they show throughout the league, it is always considered the most important game of the season. El Súper Clásico was ranked 12th on FourFourTwo's 50 biggest derbies list.[6]

Clásico Capitalino
Main article: Clásico Capitalino

The rivalry between Club América and Club Universidad Nacional is known as the "Clásico Capitalino",[7] due to the fact that both teams are based in Mexico City—the country's capital. The first match between the two clubs took place on 1 July 1962, where América hosted UNAM, who had recently been promoted from the second division. In Mexico the match is often perceived as the representation of a struggle between two antagonistic powers and institutions: Club América is regarded as the club representing the establishment and the wealthy. The fact that the club is owned by the mass media company Televisa has further intensified this image. Club Universidad, representing the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, identifies itself as the club of the intellectuals and middle-class.[8] The rivalry is particularly fierce from UNAM's side: according to surveys the majority of their supporters consider América as their main rival. However, America's fans see it as an important match but deem the match against Chivas as more important.[9]

Clásico Joven
Main article: Clásico Joven

Club América's other capital-based rival is Cruz Azul, with whom they compete in the derby known as the "Clásico Joven" (Juvenile Classic in Spanish).[7] Although both teams reside in Mexico City, Cruz Azul originated in Jasso, Hidalgo. In a similar perspective between América and UNAM's rivalry, the rivalry between América and Cruz Azul is also seen as based on social class differences: América representing the wealthy and powerful while Cruz Azul is said to represent the working class,[10] hence fans of Cruz Azul and the team itself being dubiously referred to by the nickname of "Los Albañiles" (bricklayers in Spanish), a reference to Cruz Azul's eponymous parent company, which is one of Mexico's major companies specializing in concrete and construction.

Universidad Nacional vs. Guadalajara

In recent years, U.N.A.M. and Guadalajara have increased their rivalry. Most of it is due to the 2004 Final; U.N.A.M. vs. Guadalajara.[11] Also U.N.A.M. went 36 years without winning an away match against Guadalajara.

On October 6, 2018, Pumas faced Guadalajara away in Liga MX. They had won this fixture ten days earlier in the Copa MX Round of 16 by a score of 3-1[12], though many considered the winless streak still unbroken because it did not occur in Liga MX play. Guadalajara quickly took the lead, Isaác Brizuela opening the scoring. However Guadalajara had little time to celebrate, as Pumas tied the game shortly thereafter. The score remained 1-1 until the 66th minute, when Felipe Mora scored on a header to give Pumas the lead. Pumas then saw out the 2-1 win, officially ending the 36-year record of not winning against Guadalajara in an away match in the Liga MX.[13]

Honours


National

Liga MX
Club Winners Runners-up Winning years
América 13 10 1965–66, 1970–71, 1975–76, 1983–84, 1984–85, Prode '85, 1987–88, 1988–89, Verano 2002, Clausura 2005, Clausura 2013, Apertura 2014, Apertura 2018 (record)
Guadalajara 12 9 1956–57, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1969–70, 1986–87, Verano 1997, Apertura 2006, Clausura 2017
Cruz Azul 8 11 1968–69, 1970, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1979–80, Invierno 1997
Universidad Nacional 7 7 1976–77, 1980–81, 1990–91, Clausura 2004, Apertura 2004, Clausura 2009, Clausura 2011

Copa MX
Club Winners Runners-up Winning years
América 6 3 1953–54, 1954–55, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1973–74, Clausura 2019 (record)
Guadalajara 4 8 1962–63, 1969–70, Apertura 2015, Clausura 2017
Cruz Azul 4 2 1968–69, 1996–97, Clausura 2013, Apertura 2018
Universidad Nacional 1 0 1974–75

Campeón de Campeones
Club Winners Runners-up Winning years
Guadalajara 7 - 1953–54, 1954–55, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1973–74, Clausura 2019 (record)
América 6 - 1955, 1976, 1988, 1989, 2005, 2019
Universidad Nacional 2 - 1975, 2004
Cruz Azul 2 - 1968–69, 1973–74

Supercopa MX
Club Winners Runners-up Winning years
Cruz Azul 1 0 2019
Guadalajara 1 0 2016
América 0 1


Continental

CONCACAF Champions League
Club Winners Runners-up Winning years
América 7 0 1977, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2006, 2014–15, 2015–16 (record)
Cruz Azul 6 2 1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997, 2013–14
Universidad Nacional 3 1 1980, 1982, 1989
Guadalajara 2 2 1962, 2018

CONCACAF Giants Cup
Club Winners Runners-up Winning years
América 1 0 2001

International

Copa Interamericana
Club Winners Runners-up Winning years
América 2 0 1977, 1991
Universidad Nacional 1 1 1981
Cruz Azul 0 1

Finals against each other

Record
Club v CAZ v GDL v UNAM Winning years
AME434Won 3 v CAZ: 1988-89 Liga mX, 2013 CL Liga MX, & 2018 AP 2018
Won all v GDL: 1954 Copa MX, 1955 Copa MX, & 1984 Liga MX
Won 2 v UNAM: 1984/85 Liga MX Final & 1988/89 Liga MX Final
Club v AME v GDL v UNAM Winning years
CAZ202Won 1 v AME: 1988-89 Liga MX
Won 1 v UNAM: 1984/85 Liga MX Final
Club v AME v CAZ v UNAM Winning years
GDL301-
Club v AME v CAZ v GDL Winning years
UNAM311Won 1 v AME: 1990-91 Liga MX
Won 1 v CAZ: 1980/81 Liga MX
Won 1 v GDL: Clausura 2004

Finals
Date Competition Winning team Result Losing team Location Attendance Ref.
12 May 1954Copa MX América1–1 (aet)
(3–1 pen.)		 GuadalajaraCiudad de los Deportes, Mexico City30,00[14]
6 March 1955Copa MX América1–0 GuadalajaraCiudad de los Deportes, Mexico City-[15]
9 August 1972Liga MX Cruz Azul4–1 AméricaAzteca, Mexico City100,000[16]
28/30 June 1979Liga MX Cruz Azul0–0 (1st leg)
2-0 (2nd leg)
(2-0 aggr.)		 U.N.A.M.1st leg Olímpico Universitario, Mexico City
2nd leg Azteca, Mexico City		-[17]
6/9 August 1981Liga MX U.N.A.M.0–1 (1st leg)
4-1 (2nd leg)
(4-2 aggr.)		 Cruz Azul1st leg Azteca, Mexico City
2nd leg Olímpico Universitario, Mexico City		-
7/10 Junio 1984Liga MX América2–2 (1st leg)
4-1 (2nd leg)
(5-3 aggr.)		 Guadalajara1st leg Jalisco, Guadalajara
2nd leg Azteca, Mexico City		1st leg: 56,713
2nd leg: 114,600
12/16 Julio 1989Liga MX América2–3 (1st leg)
2-2 (2nd leg)
(5-4 aggr.)
 Cruz Azul1st leg: Azteca, Mexico City
2nd leg: Azteca, Mexico City		1st leg: 114,600
2nd leg: 114,600
10/13 Julio 2004Liga MX U.N.A.M.1–1 (1st leg)
0-0 (2nd leg)
(1-1 aggr.)
(5-4 pen.)		 Guadalajara1st leg: Jalisco, Guadalajara
2nd leg: Olímpico Universitario, Mexico City		1st leg: 63,000
2nd leg: 65,000		[18][19]
23/26 May 2013Liga MX América0-1 (1st leg)
2-1 (2nd leg)
(2-2 aggr.)
(4-2 pen.)		 Cruz Azul1st leg: Azul, Mexico City
2nd leg: Azteca, Mexico City		-[20][21]
13/16 December 2018Liga MX América0–0 (1st leg)
2-0 (2nd leg)
(2-0 aggr.)
 Cruz Azul1st leg: Azteca, Mexico City
2nd leg: Azteca, Mexico City		1st leg: 59,244
2nd leg: 71,240		[22][23]
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References
  1. "How to watch Liga MX: A beginner's guide". ESPN.com. July 18, 2018.
  2. "Liga MX's 'Big 3' in capital coming up small". October 26, 2019.
  3. https://newslagoon.com/how-to-stream-liga-mx/252306/
  4. "Liga MX restart under no threat amid COVID rise". ESPN. June 14, 2020.
  5. https://www.startribune.com/soccer-insider-liga-mx-teams-make-inroads-into-u-s-markets/489360231/
  6. "FourFourTwo's 50 Biggest Derbies in the World: 20-11". FourFourTwo. FourFourTwo. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  7. "Encuesta completa sobre el equipo más popular de México". Univision.com. Grupo Reforma. 2007. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 2008. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. "FIFA Classic Rivalries: CF América VS Pumas UNAM – Mexico City's grudge game". FIFA.com.
  9. Eduardo Hernández Castro (2003). "Para Pumas la vida; para América, no lo es todo". El Economista. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  10. Archibold, Randal C. (25 October 2013). "Mexican Writer Mines the Soccer Field for Metaphors". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 October 2013. With Cruz Azul and América taking to the field on the television behind him at the cantina, Mr. Villoro sought to put the game, a traditional matchup between dominant teams in the capital, in context. "This is the Mexico City classic," he explained. "The game itself is one thing, who scores, who wins. But Cruz Azul represents the working class here; that is their following. América is the upper class, the rich or wannabe rich. So this condenses into the workers versus the wannabes."
  11. https://vivaligamx.com/2019/06/25/unam-pumas-reigned-2004/#:~:text=Clausura%202004%3A%20Pumas%20vs%20Chivas,for%20and%2019%20goals%20against.&text=Jaime%20Lozano%20converted%20a%20penalty,on%20a%203%2D2%20aggregate.
  12. https://www.milenio.com/futbol/club-pumas/pumas-gana-en-guadalajara-despues-de-36-anos
  13. https://www.informador.mx/deportes/No-hay-maldicion-Pumas-gana-de-visita-a-Chivas-en-liga-20181007-0006.html
  14. https://www.clubamerica.com.mx/comunicados/america-campeon-de-copa-1953-1954/
  15. https://www.clubamerica.com.mx/primer_equipo/copa-mexico-1954-1955-america-vs-chivas/
  16. https://www.tudn.com/liga-mx/cruz-azul-aplasto-al-america-en-la-final-de-1972-revive-la-historia
  17. https://www.record.com.mx/futbol-nacional-cruz-azul-pumas/final-de-1978-79-extasis-de-la-maquina-contra-pumas
  18. https://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/liga-mx-clausura-2004-pumas-vs-chivas-alineaciones-goles-datos-estadisticos
  19. https://vivaligamx.com/2019/06/25/unam-pumas-reigned-2004/
  20. https://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=529814
  21. https://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=529813
  22. https://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=529814
  23. https://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=529813
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