Softfootball reports that FC Barcelona are finally heading back home this weekend, as the club has now confirmed via their official X account that their La Liga clash with Athletic Club on Saturday, November 22, at 4:15 p.m. CET, will be played at the refurbished Spotify Camp Nou. It’ll be the first competitive game held at the stadium in over two years since major redevelopment works forced the team to move out.
They posted:
This return was made possible after Barcelona received the First Occupancy License for Phase 1B from the City Council, which gives the green light for the lateral stand to open. Also, subtle hints were given, especially when Lionel Messi made an emotional visit to the stadium in what is now looking like a stamp of approval from the legendary no. 10.
We also earlier reported the construction update that was given by Elena Fort, the club’s institutional vice president; while she assured that returning to the stadium was close, she couldn’t have predicted it would have happened so fast.
Combined with the earlier approval of Phase 1A, covering the main stand and the south goal area, the new setup will hold 45,401 fans. Interestingly, that number is almost the same as the temporary home, the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, though this one obviously feels a lot more comfortable.
The excitement has been building for weeks. On November 7, the club held an open training session at the stadium, bringing in more than 23,000 supporters. It wasn’t just a show, as they uploaded the training video via their official X account; it doubled as a test run to make sure the stadium operations were ready to go. Club president Joan Laporta couldn’t hide his joy afterwards, calling the achievement a “historic moment” for Barcelona.
Watch the training video below:
Of course, the road back hasn’t been smooth. Construction delays, unexpected inspections, and the usual regulatory hold-ups pushed timelines around more than once. But with recent progress moving at a much steadier pace, fans finally have something concrete to look forward to.
Saturday’s match is now more than just another league fixture. For Barça supporters, it marks a symbolic return to their identity, a chance to hear their anthem echo around their own stands again and take another step toward the full rebirth of one of football’s most legendary stadiums.
