Racing Santander 0 - Barcelona 0

Racing: Toño; Pinillos, Oriol, Garay, Luis Fernández (Ayoze 46'); Jorge López, Duscher, Colsa, Oscar Serrano (Cristian Fernández 75'); Bolado (Smolarek 55'), Munitis. 4-4-2.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Zambrotta (Márquez 79'), Oleguer, Thuram, Abidal; Xavi, Touré (Deco 68'), Iniesta; Messi (Henry 61'), Eto'o, Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.

Goals: None.

Quite a few surprises on the opening weekend of the new season, not least of which the 0-0 draw between Racing Santander and Barcelona. Speculation about whether Rijkaard would play the "Fantastic Four" together ended when Henry was left on the bench, but the other three couldn't get going, and Valdés was called upon to make two or thee saves early on. Colsa hit the post, and Barça's first real effort at goal didn't come until a couple of minutes before half time, when Luis Fernández cleared Xavi's lob off the line.

Marcelino turned to his secret weapon, Smolarek, after the break, but the Polish striker self exploded, getting himself sent off within twelve minutes for a foul on Abidal. Even so the visitors couldn't break down a makeshift defence, the closest they came a shot from Henry against the foot of the post with five minutes to go. A disappointing start, and it could have been worse had Garay not hooked a last minute effort over the bar.