Barca coach Frank Rijkaard kept faith with his tried and trusted trident of Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Leo Messi although Henry almost won it late on with an effort which came back off the post.

The France striker failed to make the starting XI but there was a debut for another new signing, Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure.

Xavi and Andres Iniesta also started in the engine room, but there was no place in the side for Portugal playmaker Deco, who has been heavily linked with a move away from the Nou Camp this summer.

At the back, Oleguer came in for injured captain Carles Puyol.

It was Racing, playing their first game under new coach Marcelino Garcia Toral, who got off to the better start with the first chance of the game on four minutes.

Captain Pablo Pinillos set up Oscar Serrano with a neat pass, but the midfielder saw his shot saved by Victor Valdes and Pedro Munitis also had his effort blocked on the rebound.

Barcelona began to see more of the ball through Ronaldinho and Eto'o, but Racing again threatened on eight minutes when Argentinian midfielder Aldo Duscher tested Valdes with a driven effort from just inside the area.

Luis Fernandez then set up Munitis on 17 minutes, but the ball was deflected to safety by Barcelona's struggling defence, which appeared to be missing the calming influence of Puyol and Rafael Marquez.

Five minutes later, the Catalans almost went behind.

With the Barcelona defence again slow to react, Jorge Lopez put through Gonzalo Colsa but the midfielder blasted his effort against the post from close range.

Munitis headed wide after 26 minutes and Duscher was also off target nine minutes later as Racing continued to dominate.

Barcelona were not in the game at this stage but began to find their feet just before half-time.

Ronaldinho had the Catalans' first effort of the match on 36 minutes, before Xavi, Oleguer and Messi all wasted decent chances before the break.

Rijkaard's side stepped up the pace after the interval, but were still unable to find their normal fluent football against a stubborn Racing rearguard.

Iniesta shot wide and Ronaldinho fired a free-kick over the bar as the visitors searched for the elusive goal.

Henry came on for Messi after an hour of play and Barcelona were further boosted on 67 minutes when Racing striker Ebi Smolarek was shown the red card for a cynical foul on Eric Abidal.

Deco came on for Toure as Rijkaard opted for all-out attack and Racing rode their luck in the closing stages.

Deco and Xavi saw good efforts deflected wide and Henry fired a powerful right-footed shot against the post as the seconds ticked away.

But Racing held on bravely and could even have snatched the points at the death when defender Ayoze Diaz blasted wide from close range.