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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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Written by
Liam Apicella
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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
1Barcelona27193575274860
2Real Madrid28186459273260
3Atletico MadridAtletico28168446222456
4Athletic Bilbao281410446242252
5Villarreal27128749381144
6Real BetisBetis2812883835344
7Mallorca28117102834-640
8Celta Vigo28116114141039
9Rayo Vallecano2891093131037
10Getafe2899102523236
11Sevilla2899103237-536
12Real Sociedad28105132530-535
13GironaGirona2897123641-534
14Osasuna2771283339-633
15Espanyol2777132639-1328
16Valencia28610123146-1528
17AlavesAlaves2869133242-1027
18Leganes2869132643-1727
19Las PalmasLas Palmas2867153247-1525
20Real ValladolidValladolid2844201863-4516


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