In a historic and emotionally charged evening, FC Barcelona made a triumphant return to their iconic Camp Nou stadium after an absence of 909 days, securing a resounding 4-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao in a La Liga clash on Saturday, November 22, 2025.
A Homecoming Amidst Construction Cranes
The return was bittersweet, set against the backdrop of a stadium still deep in renovation. The top tier of Camp Nou remains a skeleton of metal and concrete, with massive construction cranes looming over the arena, clearly visible from the stands. The current operational capacity is a reduced 45,401, a stark contrast to the eventual 105,000 seats planned upon the project's completion.
Despite the ongoing work, the club ensured the homecoming was a celebration. Minutes before kickoff, the sky lit up with fireworks followed by the club's signature blue-and-burgundy smoke, creating a festive and emotional atmosphere for the 45,000 fortunate fans in attendance.
Dominant Display on the Pitch
On the field, Barcelona delivered a performance worthy of the occasion. The scoring was opened early by veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, who capitalized on a defensive error from Athletic's Alex Berenger in the fourth minute.
The home side maintained relentless pressure on an out-of-form Athletic Bilbao. The dominance paid off again in first-half stoppage time when the 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal delivered a sublime long ball to Ferran Torres, who calmly slotted it home.
The second half continued in the same vein, with Fermin Lopez rifling a powerful strike into the net just three minutes after the restart, punishing another defensive lapse. Athletic's frustrations culminated in a straight red card for Oihan Sancet in the 53rd minute for a reckless challenge.
Ferran Torres put the final exclamation mark on the victory, scoring his second goal of the night from another counter-attack orchestrated by the brilliant Yamal, who provided his second assist.
Emotional Return and Future Prospects
The victory propelled Barcelona to the top of the La Liga table with 31 points, level with rivals Real Madrid. For the past two and a half years, the team had been playing its home matches at the 55,000-seat Olympic Stadium, a period fans and players were happy to put behind them.
"Coming back to the Camp Nou is a special day," an emotional Robert Lewandowski told DAZN after the match. "We're very happy and pleased. For returning with a win... It's different when we play here. We gain in confidence."
The major overhaul of Camp Nou, which began in June 2023, is a cornerstone of the club's strategy to boost revenues. While a definitive completion date for the new-look stadium has not been announced, the club has received UEFA authorization to host Champions League matches, with a game against Eintracht Frankfurt scheduled for December 9.
