Barcelona will finally return to iconic home ground
Barcelona are set for a long-awaited return to the Nou Camp this weekend
This is more than two years after leaving their historic home for extensive redevelopment works.
Author | Jack L
The La Liga match with Athletic Club on Saturday 22 November will mark the first fixture at the ground since May 2023.
The stadium reopens with a temporary capacity of 45,401 following the latest phase of its renovation. Barcelona last played there in an official match on 28 May 2023 against Real Mallorca, before the site was shut down to begin a project aimed at transforming the arena into a modern venue fit for the future.
Work began in June 2023 with a budget of about £1.1bn and an ambition to raise the capacity to 105,000, placing it among the largest stadiums in world football. The club had hoped to return in November 2024 to align with their 125th anniversary, but a series of delays pushed that target back.
During the redevelopment, they shifted most of their fixtures to the Olympic Stadium on Montjuic, which holds around 55,000.
They also played two matches at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, home to their women’s team, after being denied a safety permit to host games at the Nou Camp earlier this season.
More work to be done
The club has added that they are liaising with UEFA to also hold next week's Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt at the revamped venue. Official confirmation on this is still pending, but it isn’t expected to be a major issue.
The Nou Camp has served as Barcelona's home ground since it opened in 1957, and previously had a capacity of 99,000.
