BARCELONA: Barcelona will finally return to their rebuilt Camp Nou on Nov 22, hosting Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, ending over two years away from their historic home.
Since the 2022/23 season, the Catalan giants have played at alternative venues, mainly the Olympic Stadium on Montjuïc hill, due to construction delays.
The 1.5 billion euros (about RM7.22 billion) renovation, marked by logistical and safety challenges, has pushed the reopening a year past the original schedule.
The temporarily reopened stadium will hold 45,401 fans, with full capacity set at 105,000 once the upper tiers are completed. Earlier this month, 23,000 spectators attended a training session as a test event.
Barcelona also hope UEFA will approve Camp Nou to host their Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt on Dec 9.
Earlier in the season, safety restrictions forced the team to play two matches at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Training Ground.
The original Camp Nou, built in 1957, held 99,000. A roof is planned for 2027, completing the long-awaited transformation.
The return to Camp Nou marks a milestone for Barca as they look to reclaim the iconic atmosphere of their legendary stadium. – AFP
