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On this day: Barcelona open Camp Nou

Back on this day in 1957, Spanish club Barcelona played their first ever match in the Camp Nou.

Which stadiums are among the 10 most iconic? It's a question that has been asked by numerous websites, bloggers and journalists down the years.

While the answers and ordering will often vary, one ground is always present - Barcelona's Camp Nou.

Construction on the facility started in 1954 when the decision was made that Barca's current ground, named the Camp de Les Corts, was too small, with no room for expansion.

Architechts Francesc Mitjans-Mira, Lorenzo Garci­a Barbon and Josep Soteras Mauri were the men given the responsibility of producing a stadium that met the club's needs. It took a little over three years until completion, but the trio had been able to design and subsequently construct a ground that could seat just over 93,000 supporters.

It was on this day in 1957 that the Catalans turned out in their new home for the first time with the visit of Polish club Legia Warsaw in a friendly encounter.

The honour of having scored the first goal in the Camp Nou went to Barca's Eulogio Martinez, who broke the deadlock in just the 11th minute. Further strikes from Justo Tejada, Francisco Sampedro and Brazilian Evaristo de Macedo rounded off a 4-2 victory for the hosts.

Since then, the capacity has risen to around 100,000, making it the fifth-largest football stadium in the world. It has hosted two Champions League finals and World Cup matches, as well as being one of the venues for 1992 Summer Olympics.

Away from sport, various music acts, including U2, Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson have all performed at the Camp Nou. Pope John Paul II even took mass there in front of 120,000 people back in 1982.

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Barcelona players celebrate Lionel Messi's goal against AC Milan on March 12, 2013.
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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