FCBARCELONA.CAT

04.08.2008 02:42

One win ahead of Mexican sides

David Saura (enviat especial)

Before the Chivas match, FC Barcelona had played 23 games in Mexico and the US against Mexican sides, with the overall result standing at 10 wins, 10 defeats and 3 draws. Barça has now gone one win ahead.

Barça’s easy win over Guadalajara (2-5) means the Catalans now have 11 wins over Mexican sides since the first game played on 20 June 1937 against América. That match was part of Barça’s tour of Mexico to revive the club’s finances in the midst of the Spanish Civil War. This is just one of the curious facts and figures to come out of today’s game:

Alves and Pedro always in the starting XI: Pep Guardiola once again chose Pedro and Alves in his starting line-up, with both playing on the right. They are the only two players who so far have been in the starting XI for all four preseason games.

With official numbers: this Sunday the club announced the official shirt numbers for the season with which the players have been registered for the Champions League qualifying games. The players wore these numbers in the Chivas match for the first time.

Biggest cheers: for Henry and Márquez, both in the starting XI for the Chivas game, when the team list was read out before the kick-off. When Puyol and Eto’o came on in the second half they were also given a warm welcome.

Pre-match festival: the 40,717 fans that came to Soldier Field were able to enjoy a pre-match festival around the ground with entertainment especially geared towards children. Most of the crowd for the game was Hispanic.

Guddy in long sleeves: despite the humid heat of Chicago, Eidur Gudjohnsen as usual opted to wear a long-sleeved shirt, the only Barça player to do so. For the second game running Barça wore its second strip.