Eyeing top spot, André Jardine faces former Cruzeiro boss in Mexican derby | OneFootball

In the early hours of this Saturday, the Estadio Ciudad Universitaria will set the stage for yet another chapter in one of the greatest rivalries in Mexican football. In a match valid for the 13th round of the Liga MX, América, coached by Brazilian manager André Jardine, faces Cruz Azul, led by Argentine Nicolás Larcamón, former Cruzeiro coach.

With a recent history of great matches and the two teams separated by just two points, fighting directly for the lead in the 2025 Apertura, the clash is eagerly awaited in Mexico.

Brazilian Success in Mexico

América is the runner-up with 27 points and is riding a streak of three consecutive victories. Jardine’s team is experiencing one of the most dominant periods in its history. Since arriving at the club in June 2023, the Brazilian coach has won six titles, including three consecutive Mexican championships.

In four editions of the Mexican Championship already contested under Jardine’s command, André reached the final in all of them and became the most successful coach in the club’s history, which celebrated its 109th anniversary on the 12th.

Photo: Publicity

Larcamón on the Rise

Meanwhile, Cruz Azul is also going through a great phase. Under Larcamón, who had a brief stint at Cruzeiro in 2024, the sky-blue team has strung together seven straight wins in the competition and occupies fourth place, with 25 points.

In the first half of the year, the club won the Concachampions and secured a spot in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup—a tournament that replaces the former Club World Cup—where they will face the Libertadores champion on December 10.

Recent Clashes

In recent years, América and Cruz Azul have staged the most memorable clashes in Mexican football. The final of the 2024 Clausura, won 1-0 on aggregate, secured Jardine his second consecutive national title. In the next two tournaments, still before Larcamón’s arrival, the rivals met again in the semifinals, and América once more came out on top on both occasions, even with their opponent coming in as the favorite.

The payback came in the 2025 Concachampions, when Cruz Azul eliminated Jardine’s team in the quarterfinals and went on to win the title.

High-Level Duel

“You could say that, on the field, the rivalry between América and Cruz Azul is the biggest in the country today. It’s a game that makes Mexico stop to watch, and the energy from the stands is unique. Cruz Azul is in a great moment. Larcamón is an intelligent coach who plays high-pressing football with quick transitions. It’s going to be a match worthy of two great teams,” said André Jardine.

On the other side, Larcamón values the derby as a final. “América has a top-level squad and a coach who has always known how to get the best out of every player. Facing Jardine is always a big and motivating challenge. These derbies have a special weight and prepare the team for the decisive moments of the season,” highlights the 41-year-old Argentine.

In addition to the symbolic weight and the direct battle for the lead, the derby brings an extra ingredient: whoever wins is mathematically guaranteed early qualification for the Liguilla, the Liga MX knockout stage that begins after the 17 rounds of the regular season.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.