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Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Saturday, 13 Sep
Competition: ???label.competicio0???
Stadium: Camp Nou, Barcelona

Resultat:

FC Barcelona: 1
Racing: 1

Match report

Match Report
Pre-Match

Match Report

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Goals

1-0 Messi (p) (min 71)
1-1 Pereira (min 76)

A harsh twist in the tail (1-1)

Jordi Clos

FC Barcelona paid the price for not converting their chances in front of goal and had to settle for a share of the spoils against a very defensive Racing Santander side that scored with their only clear chance of the game.

Pep Guardiola's side had little luck during the draw in Camp Nou on Saturday evening in the Blaugrana's first league game at home of the new campaign. Racing closed up at the back and looked to hold out for a draw and they succeeded, after going behind to a Lionel Messi penalty, when a free-kick from distance was toe-poked past Víctor Valdés by Jonathan Pereira.

Changes to the team

Following the round of World Cup qualifiers, Guardiola opted to choose an unfamiliar looking line-up with young Sergio Busquets and Pedro named in the side. As the rain began to come down after kick off, the ball span off the surface and the pace of the match was very quick in the opening minutes. Racing were unable to keep possession as Barça controlled the play and looked to take advantage, but they could not find a way past Toño in the opening half despite creating at least three good chances.

Down the flanks

Unlike in Numancia, the Blaugrana were able to find the wide players continuously and sought to find a way round their opponents and it allowed the game to be opened up when the midfield become too busy to pass through. Pedro, on the right, had a good chance to make a name for himself in the 17th minute beore Aliaksandr Hleb on the other side also showed some good touches.

Controlling matter

The clearest opportunity of the opening period came from Seydou Keita when he met a corner from Xavi and sent a powerful header goalwards, only for it to fly straight at the keeper. Toño also had his gloves warmed by the Mali international soon after when he had to keep out a low drive from distance. Shortly before the break Hleb hobbled off with a knock and was replaced by Andrés Iniesta.

Raising the game

After the interval, Barça raised their game even further and laid siege to Toño's goal as they looked to make the breakthrough. In the 50th minute Daniel Alves looked up and clipped the ball over the keeper, but watched as is bounced back off the crossbar. Soon after Iniesta had strong claims for a penalty turned down before Xavi fired over from 25 yards out and Pedro shot straight at the keeper from close range.

Messi is spot on

Lionel Messi made his entrance for Keita midway through the second half and immediately caused Racing problems down the right flank. Samuel Eto'o had his best chance just after the hour mark but Toño made an incredible save with his feet, but then the Blaugrana were finally presented with a chance they could not spurn in the 71st minute as the referee gave a penalty for handball and Messi rolled home from the spot.

Surprise equaliser

It appeared that the three points were secured, but there was to be a twist in the tail just five minutes later when Ezequiel Garay's free-kick was diverted past Valdés by Pereira and Racing were level. It was an incredible injustice after the visitors had spent the majority of the game defying Barça rather than trying to score themselves.

Preview

Victory last season

The corresponding fixture last season saw Barça win 1-0 thanks to a goal from Thierry Henry. That game was also the first in Camp Nou.

The first league game in Camp Nou

Roger Bogunyà

FC Barcelona play their first league game at home of the new season (8pm CET, live on TV3, LaSexta and R@dio Barça) and will be hoping to earn their first points against Racing Santander who are the visitors to Camp Nou.

It has been four months and two days since Camp Nou hosted a league encounter and now, in the secon round of matches of the season, Barça will appear in front of their own supporters. Having tasted defeat on the opening day of la Primera against Numancia in Los Parajitos in a game that now seems to have been a long time ago, the Blaugrana have been working on what mistakes were made despite the absence of the majority of first team players on international duty.

A busy schedule

The game on Saturday evening is just the first of several testing encounters to come in the next three weeks as Barça's season really kicks into gear with matche sboth at the weekend and in midweek until mid-October. The game against Racing can be used to see where Pep Guardiola's team stand and set them up for a good run in the next few outings.

Cáceres and Márquez

The only players that have been omitted from the squad who are not injured are Rafa Márquez and Martín Cáceres after they made very long trips to play in World Cup qualifiers over the past few days. Cáceres' return to Barcelona was delayed after his flight back from South America did not leave on time due to fog at the airport, while Márquez has a slight knock. Sergi Busquets has been included in the squad of 20 for the match to ensure that the coach has the numbers that he requires.

Favourable statistics

Racing are a familiar opponent for Barça in the first game at Camp Nou of the season as they two sides have been paired this early in the season five previous occasions in the past and the statistics favour the hosts. In the four previous meetings, Barça have won three and there has been one draw. Another statistic that favours Guardiola's side is Barça's history on the opening day at Camp Nou as the team have not lost for the past 20 seasons on their first appearance in front of their fans.

Goalscoring form

Barça will no doubt create chances on Saturday evening and several star players have kept their goalscoring eyes in on international duty with Thierry Henry and Eidur Gudjohnsen while Bojan Krkic had a good week as he was given his debut for the full Spain team after being introduced as a substitute during the World Cup qualifier against Armenia on Wednesday.

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