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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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Barcelona players celebrate Lionel Messi's goal against AC Milan on March 12, 2013.
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid33266171224984
2GironaGirona33225669402971
3Barcelona32217464372770
4Atletico MadridAtletico33204962392364
5Athletic Bilbao331610753332058
6Real Sociedad331312846351151
7Real BetisBetis32121284038248
8Valencia32138113534147
9Getafe331013104145-443
10Villarreal32119125155-442
11Osasuna32116153746-939
12AlavesAlaves33108153138-738
13Sevilla32910134145-437
14Las PalmasLas Palmas33107163041-1137
15Rayo Vallecano32713122739-1234
16Mallorca32613132638-1231
17Celta Vigo33710163750-1331
18CadizCadiz32413152245-2325
19Granada3239203361-2818
20Almeria33111213267-3514


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