Barcelona Set for Return to Camp Nou This Weekend
Barcelona is set to make its long-anticipated return to Spotify Camp Nou this Saturday, as they confirmed that their LaLiga match against Athletic Club will take place at their iconic stadium. Following ongoing renovations, the club received a license from the local council allowing them to host matches with a maximum attendance of 45,401.
The historic ground has been closed since 2023 for refurbishment, necessitating that Barcelona play their home games at the Olympic Stadium during the renovation period. Initially, the team planned to return by the end of 2024, but various delays have pushed back the timeline. Now, the Spanish champions have finally secured permission to welcome a substantial crowd back to Camp Nou.
In October, Barcelona was granted a permit to reopen the stadium, but the initially set capacity of 25,991 was deemed insufficient from a financial perspective, leading the club to delay their return. Earlier this month, they conducted a successful test event at Camp Nou, attracting nearly 23,000 fans for an open training session, which the club president, Joan Laporta, hailed as a positive outcome.
Last week, Barcelona submitted updated documents to expand the attendance limit and received confirmation of the new capacity just this Monday. The matchup against Athletic Club marks the beginning of a busy schedule for the Catalan side, who will also face Chelsea in the Champions League followed by consecutive home matches against Alavés and Atlético Madrid.
While it remains uncertain whether the Champions League clash against Frankfurt on December 9 will be held at Camp Nou or the Olympic Stadium, Laporta has expressed optimism about meeting UEFA’s requirements to accommodate the match at their home ground. Currently, renovations are ongoing, with the bottom two tiers completed, while work continues on the third tier and the roof, with full completion expected by 2027, ultimately increasing the stadium’s capacity to 105,000.
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