In Mexico, a Double Dose of Derby Last weekend, two derby games in Mexico provided a glimpse of where the currents may be taking the country's soccer future. Now the teams involved must absorb the results and carry on in domestic and international competitions. Guadalajara and América, the most popular teams in Mexico, but currently not the most successful, faced off in the national clásico, with both in precarious positions in the standings as they tried to salvage their seasons. "We haven't been as spectacular as people like, but we are moving forward to the playoffs," América Coach Miguel Herrera said after winning, 1-0. We've won two of two clásicos, and our people love that. In Monterrey, two city teams that have shifted soccer power north, faced off in the Clásico Regiomontano. in Monterrey's Tecnológico stadium. Monterrey showed it is the class of Mexican soccer, by beating - and dominating - Tigres of Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León 2-0. Now, the two losers will face off in a match that will make history and fate. If Tigres win at home and eliminate Guadalajara from the postseason, it will also set a record of 26 matches without losing at the Volcano, since April 2011. Cruz Azul, América and Toluca share the current mark. Guadalajara can take heart in recent history, and Tigres may take pleasure in giving Chivas a dose of bitter medicine. On May 7, 2011, Chivas knocked Tigres, the regular-season leader, out of the playoffs by tying in Monterrey. Tigres finally won its first title in 29 years and is the current champion. The América-Chivas derby pits the capital against the second city and cultural heart of México, and América's checkbook against Guadalajara's homegrown talents. Chivas has 11 national titles; América has been crowned 10 times. After six mediocre seasons, América started strong under Herrera, but is now in fifth place with 25 points, 9 behind leader Santos but within range of landing one of the eight playoff spots. After a dreadful start, Guadalajara is in 12th place and needs all 9 points from its remaining matches. Before the Clásico Nacional Herrera said, "they can start to get ready for next season, because [we're knocking them out] of the playoff race." On Wednesday, Chivas faced Vélez Sarsfield of Argentina in a Group 7 match in the Copa Libertadores. Vélez leads the group and has already advanced, but Guadalajara is tied for last place and needs a victory to remain in contention. Surprisingly, Guadalajara has the historical advantage over the Argentines with two home victories over Vélez in past Libertadores. Moreover, Vélez has not scored in their two matches in Guadalajara. Last Saturday's derby in Monterrey illustrated the repositioning of soccer's power center to the north of the country. Monterrey and Universidad de Nuevo León (Tigres) of Monterrey have won two of the last three titles and Santos of Torreón is a perennial contender in the league and international competitions. Now that Santos has dispatched Toronto in the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions League - and Monterrey has reached the two-leg finals again with the California-born Hérculez Gómez in torrid form, one of the northern teams will again travel to the FIFA Club World Cup. The two Monterrey teams have what can be considered the best man-for-man rosters in Mexico. These include the internationals Humberto Suazo of Chile, Aldo de Nigris (Mexico), Ángel Reyna, Walter Ayoví (Ecuador), César Delgado (Argentina) and Hiram Mier, for Monterrey, and Carlos Salcido, Lucas Lobos and Damián Alvarez for Tigres. "At the national level, Chivas-América is more important, but in the stadium, the Clásico Regionmontano derby is more intense," said the Tigres defender Carlos Salcido. Has the power axis of Mexican soccer shifted inexorably north? The region will have the future champion of Concacaf, and perhaps also of México. Keyvan Antonio Heydari is an international soccer broadcaster and reporter. He can be followed at keyvan9.