After decades of mediocre seasons between the first and second divisions, Pachuca was last promoted to the Primera División in 1998. Since then, it has been one of the most successful clubs in Mexico, winning 7 national championships, 5 CONCACAF Champions' Cups, the 2007 SuperLiga, and the Copa Sudamericana.

The area had been long-inhabited; apart from some green obsidian, the mining that Pachuca is most famous for began in the mid-16th century, during Spanish colonial rule. Pachuca remained a major mining center until the mid-20th century, with the city's fortunes fluctuating with the health of the mining sector.

What has happened in the last 5 occasions that Chivas and Pachuca have clashed? The rivalry has been very evenly divided, as recently there has been no clear dominator, so much so that the most recent 3 editions have resulted in a draw.

The team was founded as Pachuca Athletic Club in 1901 by a group of miners from Cornwall, England. This eventually led to the club being nicknamed Los Tuzos (The Gophers) by fans.