IT IS their worst League start in 35 years.

That is the hole Barcelona have dug for themselves, as they threw away two vital points in a 1-1 home draw with Racing Santander on Saturday.

Argentine winger Lionel Messi converted a 70th-minute penalty, but Barca failed to take advantage with Jonathan Pereira equalising six minutes later to deny the hosts victory.

One point from six is a woeful start for coach Pep Guardiola who will expect better when Barcelona start their Champions League campaign with a home match against Sporting Lisbon.

'The draw leaves a sour taste in my mouth but I have nothing to complain about besides the result,' said Guardiola.

'I can't criticise the players as I am very happy with their attitude.

'We deserved the victory against a team that came to take the tempo out of the game and be behind the ball.

'The team played better than last time (against Numancia) but we are struggling to find the net.

'The players are hurting but my job is to cheer them up and make them see that they have done a lot of things well.'

Guardiola was clearly unhappy with the opening 1-0 defeat by Numancia and showed he is not afraid to make big decisions by dropping Thierry Henry.

Bojan Krkic, Andres Iniesta and Messi all started on the substitutes bench - probably due to their international exertions - making way for the lesser known Sergi Busquets, 20, and 21-year-old striker Pedro 'Pedrito' Rodriguez.

Gerard Pique, recruited from Manchester United in the summer, also made his debut in defence.

Guardiola was still denied his first League win at the helm though.

To compound matters, Barcelona lost Belarus midfielder Aleksandr Hleb to damaged ankle ligaments just before the break,

Only the saves of visiting goalkeeper Tono kept them at bay until Racing's Christian Fernandez handled in the area for a penalty in the 71st minute.

And it was up to substitute Messi - recently criticised by his hero Diego Maradona for being too greedy - who broke the deadlock with the spot-kick.

However, Pereira restored parity deflecting in Ezequiel Garay's drilled free-kick to prompt jeers at Camp Nou.

Atletico Madrid are also in Champions League action tomorrow at PSV Eindhoven - their first game in the competition since the 1996/97 season - but their preparations were spoiled by a 2-1 defeat at 10-man Valladolid.

'We committed two errors that were avoidable and they led to two goals,' said Atletico coach Javier Aguirre.

'It is a step backwards but we have to forget it and start from scratch again to focus on Tuesday's match.'

Atletico paid the price for the international break with Uruguayan Diego Forlan unavailable after arriving back late from the World Cup qualifiers.

Strike partner Sergio Aguero was also on the bench, probably with one eye on Atletico's Champions League opener at PSV.

Defender Jonny Heitinga was also injured on international duty with Holland forcing Aguirre to ring the changes.

Full advantage

Valladolid took full advantage of the makeshift side scoring after just three minutes, when Atletico goalkeeper Gregory Coupet failed to get to a free-kick allowing Angel Vivar Dorado to score.

On 21 minutes, Valladolid had Pedro Lopez sent off for two bookable offences.

The hosts still went two goals up seven minutes later through a penalty when Vivar Dorado went down in the box at another free-kick in the 28th minute and Javier Baraja put away the ensuing penalty to make it 2-0.

Substitute Kun Aguero pulled one back but Valladolid bravely held on.

Sevilla nudged Atletico from top spot after a superb 4-3 victory over newly-promoted side Sporting Gijon at home.

Sporting went 2-0 up inside the first 20 minutes but Sevilla stormed back with quick-fire goals from Ernesto Chevanton (21min), Frederic Kanoute (36) and Enzo Maresca (37) putting the hosts in front.

The scoring did not end there with Mate Bilic converting a penalty close to half-time for his hat-trick as a thrilling goal-packed half ended 3-3.

Kanoute got the winner as Manolo Jimenez's side made the most of Barcelona's 1-1 draw.

'It was a crazy game but it is an important three points for us and that is what matters,' said Kanoute.

- Wire Services.

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