Numancia 1 - Barcelona 1

Numancia: Juanma; Juanpa, Pignol, Otxoa, Tarantino, Graff; Velasco, Pablo Sanz (Palacios 81'), Carlos Merino (Tevenet 70'), Juanlu (Pulpo González 75'); Miguel. 5-4-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti (Albertini 35'), Oleguer, Puyol, Sylvinho; Xavi, Márquez, Deco; Giuly (Iniesta 53'), Eto'o, Ronaldinho (Maxi López 74'). 4-3-3.

Team changes: Numancia: Graff, Pablo Sanz for Ros, Tevenet / Barcelona: Oleguer, Sylvinho for Van Bronckhorst, Albertini.

Goals:
1-0. 43. Juanlu. Overhead kick from close up after Oleguer headed back throw in.
1-1. 47. Márquez. Got on the end of Xavi's corner to turn ball in on near post.

Leaders Barcelona were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by bottom club Numancia on Saturday evening. The match was in doubt up until an hour or so before kick off due to the icy conditions of the pitch after a snowstorm, but eventually went ahead after the weather improved. Frank Rijkaard put out a line up with only one change from the side which drew against Chelsea midweek, with Oleguer retuning from injury to replace Albertini. But ten minutes before the break he lost Belletti to an injury, the Brazilian defender falling badly on the hard pitch and being carried off on a stretcher.

Up to that point there had been little action from either side, with Xavi shooting weakly at the keeper and the referee waving away appeals for a penalty when Ronaldino's cross hit Tarantino on the arm from point blank range. The hosts had not really tested Víctor Valdés, but Juanlu shot just wide after a short free kick, and a couple of minutes later he put his side in front with a spectacular overhead kick after Oleguer could only head back a long throw-in.

Two minutes after the restart though Barça were level, Márquez taking advantage of slack marking to turn Xavi's corner past Juanma on the near post. The locals could have restored the lead though soon afterwards when Juanlu failed to turn in a long cross with the goal at his mercy, and the midfielder missed another chance minutes later.

The game was swinging from end to end though, Eto'o and Márquez both testing Juanma, looking for a slip on the icy pitch, and Tevenet firing a free kick just over the bar. Iniesta, Márquez and Juanlu all had chances after that, but in the end both sides had to settle for a point. Once again the Catalans failed at a ground where they have never won, but with Real Madrid losing they still extend their lead at the top to eight points.