Atlético Madrid 0 - Barcelona 0

Atlético: Burgos (Juanma 46'); Aguilera (Javi Moreno 84'), Santi, Lequi, Sergi; Novo, De los Santos, Ibagaza, Musampa (Nano 79'); Rodrigo, Fernando Torres. 4-4-2.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Puyol, Reiziger, Márquez, Van Bronckhorst; Gerard, Cocu; Luis Enrique (Andersson 64'), Ronaldinho (Xavi 80'), Motta; Kluivert. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Aguilera, Novo, De los Santos, Ibagaza, Musampa for García Calvo, Simeone, Diego Rivas, Ortíz, Paunovic / Barça: Márquez, Motta for Xavi, Saviola.

Goals: None.

Atlético Madrid were held to a 0-0 draw by Barcelona, who ended the game with nine men after Cocu and then Motta were sent off in the second half. This was the first time in 67 years that the fixture in the Calderón stadium has ended without goals, and Atlético ended the weekend only a point above the bottom three having only scored once this season.

Both managers made changes to their sides after recent disappointing results, Manzano returning to his first choice wingers Novo and Musampa after leaving them out last week, bringing in Ibagaza for his first start and leaving Simeone on the bench. Rijkaard gave a first start to Márquez, and could also count on Motta for the first time this season now that he has recovered from injury.

Apart from a couple of saves by Burgos from Ronaldinho and Luis Enrique, the first half was dominated by the actions of referee Daudén Ibáñez, who failed to get any decision right. First of all he missed a clear hand ball by Santi inside the penalty area, then he disallowed a Márquez own goal for a supposed foul by Torres on Cocu, and finally he let Reiziger off a red card as he brought down Novo when he was advancing unchallenged on goal.

The red cards did come in the second half though, the first for Cocu for a second yellow card, which Daudén was dishing out for every foul committed. By now Atlético were getting on top, with Víctor making two important saves from Santi and Torres, and Rijkaard decided to bring on Patrik Andersson in defence, pushing Márquez forward to play in Cocu's role in front of the back four.

That stabilized things, but Barça were hit another blow when Motta brought down a theatrical Aguilera, and he too was booked for the second time and sent off. Rijkaard sacrificed Ronaldinho to bring on Xavi, and Manzano finally introduced two new attackers, ex Barça youngster Nano and Javi Moreno. But the visitors held on in a last frantic rush, Víctor saving again from Torres and Moreno shooting just wide. Barça's undefeated record was intact, but they will be two men short for next week's clash with Valencia.