The Mexican National Classic has presented us with a three-game duel within a span of two weeks. Two in the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 and another in the Liga MX, with América advancing in the first and the league match yet to be played this coming Saturday, March 16.

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But what's surprising isn't just the quantity, but the quality of former players, coaches, and sports figures from Real Madrid and FC Barcelona who are now involved with both squads. Let's take a look at the personalities who had stints at these Spanish giants:

• Fernando Hierro: A Spanish football legend, first with the Spanish national team where he earned 89 caps and captained between 1998 and 2002. With Real Madrid, he etched his name in the history books winning 5 La Liga titles, playing over 400 matches, and surpassing 100 goals in the iconic white shirt. Now, Hierro serves as the Sporting Director of Club Deportivo Guadalajara after holding the same position with the Spanish national team from 2007 to 2011 and with Málaga from 2011 to 2012.

• Fernando Gago: Emerging from Boca Juniors in 2004, he moved to Real Madrid in 2006 where he won two consecutive La Liga titles (2007-2008), a Supercopa de España (2008), and a Copa del Rey (2011). Gago now arrives as the new coach of Club Deportivo Guadalajara this season following his coaching stint at Racing Club where he secured a Trofeo de Campeones and an International Supercup.
• Javier "Chicharito" Hernández: Though the Mexican star rose from Chivas, he also had his spell in Spain with Real Madrid during the 2014-2015 season where he played a total of 33 matches, scoring nine goals and providing nine assists. Now, the prodigal son has returned home at the age of 35, 14 years after his departure, after spells at top clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen, Sevilla, West Ham United, and more.
• Álvaro Fidalgo: Now dominating the midfield for Club América, he was born in Real Madrid's youth system, joining in 2012 and being part of the UEFA Youth League team. He was later promoted to Real Madrid Castilla where he played 91 matches, scoring 15 goals, and providing 8 assists. Serving as captain under Raúl González, he made the move to Mexican football with Club América in 2021, where he has already amassed 104 appearances, nine goals, and 12 assists, winning a league title with the Eagles in 2023.

• Jonathan Dos Santos: The midfielder for the Eagles, he came through the ranks at FC Barcelona where he experienced ups and downs under managers like Luis Enrique in Barcelona B and later Pep Guardiola in the first team. Accumulating a total of 29 appearances with the Blaugrana, he won three La Liga titles, three Spanish Super Cups, a Copa del Rey, and a Champions League, among others. After stints at Villarreal and LA Galaxy, he landed at Club América (his dream team), where he's claimed a league title and rejuvenated his career after being a failed promise in the Catalan city.

These are the five players, coaches, and sports figures with pasts in the Spanish league now battling out another classic, but this time in Mexico, where each one will seek to make their mark in yet another derby.