“We came into the world like brother and brother; And now let’s go hand in hand, not one before another”.
– William Shakespeare
“Not always eye to eye, but always heart to heart”.
– Unknown
It might be the stripes but I have to say I usually enjoy a Chivas V Rayados match. TBH I have always looked forward to these games. Monterrey has always been a good measuring stick for Guadalajara. Heck, La Pandilla is a good measuring stick for any team.
When Mohammed and the Rayados came back from the FIFA Club World Cup last season they seemed a tired, beat up team. When the time came for the Chivas V Monterrey matchup, it looked like an easy win for the Red and White team.
It wasn’t. Strangely enough it was the first game played behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 lock down. I was P.O.’ed because I had already gone out and got the chelas and stuff for the 7 Verde Previa!!! A tailgating extravaganza as it were!!!
To make a long story short I drank the beer, threw some steaks on the barbie and watched the game on CHIVASTV. We tied. At the time it was inconceivable. Chivas was on an ascending curve and Monterrey as I mentioned before were barely able to hold it together.
That’s usually how it goes between El Rebaño Sagrado and Rayados. Throughout the last decade the teams have more or less divided the results, slightly in favor of los de La Sultana, with 8 W’s for Chivas, 9 for Monterrey, The other 3 games were ties.
This season, Rayados got off to a solid start with only 2 losses in their first 10 matches, including a 3-0 win over another top 4 contender, America. A curious factoid is that only Leon and Monterrey have been able to keep their game up in the last leg of Guard1anes 2020. Of all the teams, both are contenders for the final two.
Mohammed has been able to find balance in his lines. Monterrey’s main strength is ball possession and distribution. They are able to change their on field positioning at the drop of a dime, are fluid in both attack and defense, and come at you, and probably will, down the middle or through either wing. Danger in a blue and white striped jersey.
The Vucetich 11 will have to press hard and be on their ‘best futbol’ if they want to come away with the victory. Chivas has also shown good ball possession and fluidity. Guadalajara also presses and counters with lightning fast, aggressively. The one thing we are obviously at a disadvantage in, is striking. Hopefully, our lack of on target shooting will not put a damper on the result. Los Rojiblancos do well against forward minded teams. Let’s cross our fingers and toes!!!
Whatever the outcome, I will be feeling a bit of nostalgia and probably some deja-vu while I prep the yard for the match. We will be having pizzas instead of steaks, Gin instead of beer (Mentira!!! it will be both). What will remain the same is the anticipation of watching a well-played futbol match. They won’t disappoint. Chivas and Monterrey are Brothers in Stripes.
PRE GAME FACTOID: As I was doing my homework I found this article on the Chivas official website. I was really surprised to find that more than 40 footballers have changed stripes since the 60’s. Check out Fernando Giaccardi’s article in the link below. You can thank him later!!!
