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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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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
1Barcelona17122350193138
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Mallorca188371821-327
6Villarreal157532725226
7Osasuna176742225-325
8Real Sociedad167361611524
9GironaGirona176472325-222
10Sevilla176471823-522
11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Celta Vigo176382528-321
13Rayo Vallecano165561819-120
14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe173771114-316
16AlavesAlaves174491928-916
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1642101528-1314
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


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