First Division - Day 3

Atlético Madrid 1 - Barcelona 1

Atlético: Leo Franco; Velasco, Perea, Pablo, Sergi; Luccin, Colsa (Salva 43'); Jorge (Aguilera 70'), Ibagaza, Musampa (Marcelo Sosa 46'); Fernando Torres. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti, Puyol, Oleguer (Márquez 60'), Van Bronckhorst; Xavi, Edmilson, Deco; Giuly, Eto'o (Larsson 46'), Ronaldinho (Iniesta 76'). 4-3-3.

Team changes: Atlético: Velasco, Luccin for García Calvo, Simeone / Barcelona: Belletti, Oleguer, Van Bronckhorst, Edmilson, Ronaldinho for Gabri, Márquez, Sylvinho, Motta, Larsson.

Goals:
0-1. 22. Van Bronckhorst. Latched on to loose ball and shot into near top corner
1-1. 50. Fernando Torres. Headed on Franco clearance and fired shot over Valdés.

Atlético Madrid and Barcelona came in to the next to last match on Sunday night sharing the lead between them, and once again they couldn't be separated as they ended up drawing 1-1. Velasco came in to César Ferrando's line up for the first time after García Calvo injured himself in the pre-match warm up, and Rijkaard could count on Ronaldinho at last, Larsson the man left out to make space for him.

Van Bronckhorst was the man who made the early headlines though, first of all pouncing on a loose ball to beat Leo Franco with a long shot which referee Daudén Ibáñez ruled out, supposedly for controlling the ball with his arm, and then opening the scoring with a similar effort after Velasco tackled Ronaldinho.

Fernando Torres went close at the other shortly before half time with a first time volley over the bar, and levelled the scores five minutes after the restart when he ran on to Leo Franco's long clearance and left Puyol for dead before beating Valdés from a wide angle.

After that though the best chances fell to the visitors, Ronaldinho somehow heading over the bar from a yard out, and then shooting just wide after taking a return pass from half time substitute Larsson and cutting through the defence. And Xavi produced a dazzling run himself past several defenders before placing a shot wide of the keeper, only to see Sergi clear the ball as it was on its way in.

In the end though honours were shared, leaving both sides in the Champions' League spots on seven points, behind leaders Espanyol on goal average and tied with three other teams.