Barcelona 1 - Atlético Madrid 1

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti, Thuram (Giuly 61'), Puyol, Oleguer; Xavi, Motta, Deco; Iniesta, Gudjohnsen (Ezquerro 68'), Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.
Atlético: Leo Franco; Seitaridis (Valera 25'), Ze Castro, Pablo, Antonio López; Galletti (Pernía 85'), Luccin, Maniche, Jurado (Mista 46'); Agüero, Fernando Torres. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Barça: Oleguer, Motta, Iniesta for Sylvinho, Edmilson, Giuly / Atlético: No change.

Goals:
1-0. 41. Ronaldinho. Fired angled free kick past wall and in to far side of net.
1-1. 60. Agüero. Ran on to Luccin pass to flick shot past víctor Valdés.

Barcelona were unable to do any more than draw 1-1 with their "bestia negra" Atlético Madrid, leaving them three points adrift of Sevilla (albeit with a game in hand) going in to the winter break. Deco brought an early save out of Leo Franco, and Xavi went close a couple of times a few minutes later, shooting wide and then testing Franco with a header. The visitors replied with a long Antonio lópez free kick which Valdés kept out, but with four minutes to go to the break Ronaldinho opened the scoring, curling a free kick over the wall and into the far corner of Franco's goal.

The long trip to Japan for the Club World Cup started to take it's toll though, and on the hour mark Agüero got ahead of Thuram to poke Luccín's pass wide of Valdés. Motta headed a corner over the top, and substitute Ezquerro shot wide after Deco stepped over Iniesta's pass to put him free on goal. At the other end Fernando Torres headed over the bar, but in the end both sides settled for a draw, keeping Barça in touch with the leaders and giving the visitors the point they needed to stay in the top four.