By Martin Graham
Barcelona they prepare to play once more on their traditional turf when they meet Athletic Club in the League this weekend. The match, scheduled for 15:15 GMT on Saturday 22 November, marks their first competitive appearance there in over two years.
The arena will return to use after the partial rebuild, with its capacity temporarily limited to 45,401 for this fixture. The team’s last official outing at the venue took place on 28 May 2023, when they faced Real Mallorca before construction work forced its closure.
Renovation efforts began in June 2023 at an estimated cost of around £1.1 billion. The project aims to modernize the entire complex and eventually expand its capacity to 105,000, placing it among the largest football arenas in the world.
Delays and temporary housing
The initial intention was to reopen the ground in November 2024 to align with the club’s 125th anniversary. However, the Catalan team has encountered several setbacks that have pushed back the timeline.
During this long period away from its historic site, the team mainly played matches in the Olympic Stadium on the hill of Montjuïc, a venue with around 55,000 spectators.
They also played two games this season at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium after losing the necessary permission to return to their home ground due to security concerns.
Optimism for the next matches
Club officials expressed their delight at the return and noted the importance of resuming matches at their former home as the wider redevelopment continues.
The institution has also communicated with UEFA the possibility of hosting next week’s Champions League against Eintracht Frankfurt at the refurbished venue, although confirmation has yet to be given.
Opened in 1957, the stadium had previously held around 99,000 fans before construction work began.
