Barcelona Vs. Chivas De Guadalajara, 2011 International Friendly: Chivas Earn Shock 4-1 Win

It may be a friendly, but that’s a top class goal worthy of winning any match, friendly or cup final. It;s absolutely spectacular stuff from a player that really flies under the radar. Those who watch the Mexican Primera know how good Fabian is, but he hasn’t gotten many looks with the Mexico national team so not everyone gets to see Fabian play. You can be sure that just about anyone who even watches the sport occasionally will get a look at this goal though. Just wow.

The reason, of course, that Chivas are even comparable to Barcelona on the day is that Pep Guardiola is fielding a grand total of four regular first-teamers in his lineup today, and two of them are defenders. Only Villa and Xavi are present from Barcelona’s fearsome attacking corps, and he’s provided the greatest threat, scoring once after breaking the offside trap and running past Luis Michel, and then hitting the bar while trying a rather cheeky lob towards the end of the first half.

Anyway, not Barcelona at their best, but this isn’t really Barcelona at all, so hey, it’s all good. Look for the score to be a lot higher in the second half.

Who likes watching international friendlies between European and North American giants?!? I am, admittedly, lukewarm on them, but there are going to be about 75,000 people at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida for one tonight. Wednesday, FC Barcelon - arguably the most popular European club in Mexico and among Mexican-Americans - takes on Chivas Guadalajara, who are arguably the most popular Mexican club, in the World Football Challenge.

Chivas have a league match on Saturday, but they won’t be conserving their energy and playing a reserve team. They played all of their starters in a previous friendly against Real Madrid, while almost every other Mexican team is playing a competitive match on Wednesday as well, either in the CONCACAF Champions League or Round 3 of the Mexican Primera Division.