FC Barcelona Vs SSC Napoli In Miami: PHOTO GALLERY

MIAMI, FL — FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi did not make the trip to the U.S. because of a calf injury but his team managed to wow a crowd of 57,062 soccer-loving American fans Wednesday night when it took on SSC Napoli at Hard Rock Stadium.

Both clubs brought their first teams — with the exception of Messi — for the inaugural LaLiga-Serie A Cup in the first of a two-game series in the United States. FC Barcelona bested the Italians 2-1.

Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic scored for FC Barcelona while Samuel Umtiti of FC Barcelona inadvertently knocked one into his own net.

The two teams will play again Saturday night at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. If the aggregate score of the series ends in a draw after the second match, penalty kicks will determine the inaugural LaLiga-Serie A Champion, according to organizers.

Wednesday's game featured an appearance by Ashlin Harris and Ali Krieger of the U.S. Women's National Team, which did some wowing of its own earlier this summer by winning the Women’s World Cup in Paris.

"Napoli is a good team but Barcelona had good players," observed Victor Torres, who drove his wife and their two children, Santiago and Isabella, from Orlando to see FC Barcelona. "We enjoyed the game."

Barcelona and SSC Napoli are two of the most successful franchises in the world of soccer. FC Barcelona recently played the Gamper Trophy in Barcelona, where team officials unveiled the 2019 first team to tens of thousands at Camp Nou Stadium.

"I enjoyed the first half and then I went in for drinks at half time and never left," confessed Joshua Santiago of Pembroke Pines, whose friend gave him a ticket to the game. "I'm a Gonzo journalist at heart. Hunter S. Thompson always taught me: Enjoy the life. Don't enjoy the actual event."

A 26-time LaLiga and five-time UEFA Champions League champions, FC Barcelona holds the record for the most Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana titles with 30 and 13 respectively. It also holds the most UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup titles and UEFA Super Cup wins.

SSC Napoli is recognized internationally as one of the most successful Italian clubs, having won two league titles, five Coppa Italias, two Supercoppa Italiana titles and one UEFA Cup. The club placed second overall in the league this year. This is SSC Napoli’s first trip to the United States in 30 years.

Hard Rock Stadium holds the record for the largest crowd for a soccer match in Florida in 2015 and held the first El Clasico in the U.S. in 2017 while Michigan Stadium holds the record for the largest U.S. crowd to watch a soccer match when 109,318 fans saw Manchester United take on Real Madrid in 2014.

"I wished in my dreams to see Barcelona in real life," said Eddy Alvaro of South Miami, whose dream came true Wednesday with his wife, Ana Reyes, by his side. "Good game. Barcelona wins."

Tickets to the Michigan match was still available as of Thursday.