Barcelona thrashed Athletic Bilbao 4-0 on their return to Camp Nou, almost three years later. When the stadium first opened in 1957, it was against a Polish team. Yesterday, it was a Polish forward, Lewandowski, who scored the first goal in the new version of the ground.
It was almost three years of waiting for the fans, but the players made every second worthwhile.
After 909 days away, Barcelona finally returned to Camp Nou, the stadium that has been their home since 1957 and which, after undergoing one of the most ambitious renovation projects in European football, welcomed the blaugrana heroes once again. The night felt like a celebration of history, identity and renewal. Supporters filled the stands long before kickoff, creating an atmosphere that mixed nostalgia with excitement for a new era. And the team responded in perfect fashion. The 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao was not only convincing but symbolic, marking a new beginning in a stadium that has shaped the club’s greatness for nearly seven decades.
The renovated Camp Nou dazzled from the moment the players stepped out of the tunnel. Expanded seating, modernised facilities and updated acoustics helped amplify the roar of over one hundred thousand fans. The opening minutes demonstrated just how much the squad had missed playing in front of their own people. Barcelona pressed high, moved the ball quickly and displayed an intensity that has sometimes been lacking in away matches. Lewandowski captured the emotion of the moment when he said after the match that playing at Camp Nou is very different and that the team feels much stronger at home. His words reflected the connection between players and fans, a relationship that has always been a defining element of Barcelona’s identity.
The Polish striker wasted no time in marking the historic occasion. Just four minutes into the match, he pounced on a loose ball and finished with a precise low shot across the goalkeeper, scoring the first goal in the new era of Camp Nou. For a player who has built a career on delivering in big moments, this goal will undoubtedly remain etched in his memory. At thirty seven years old, Lewandowski continues to defy expectations with his consistency, registering eleven goals and two assists this season. Hansi Flick, who has repeatedly praised the striker’s professionalism, did not hesitate to call him the best forward of the last decade.
Ferran Torres was another standout performer. Operating with freedom on the wing, he added two goals that showcased his improved confidence and decision making under Flick. Fermín López completed the scoring with a composed finish, further reinforcing the idea that Barcelona’s younger generation is becoming increasingly decisive. With this victory, Barça moved level on points with Real Madrid at the top of the table, although their rivals still have a match to play away at Elche.
Elsewhere in La Liga, Real Sociedad continued their impressive form. The Basque side extended their unbeaten run to five matches with a 3-1 win away at Osasuna. Gonçalo Guedes, who has been steadily regaining form, scored a fine goal after receiving a well weighted pass from Oyarzabal. His low strike to the far post was his second goal of the season and contributed to Real Sociedad’s rise to tenth place. The team’s attacking fluidity and defensive structure suggest they could climb further if they maintain this momentum.
Villarreal also kept themselves firmly in the race near the top of the table with a 3-1 victory over Mallorca. The Yellow Submarine are now only two points behind Barcelona and Real Madrid. Portuguese midfielder Renato Veiga earned a starting spot and delivered a solid performance, while his compatriot Samu Costa scored Mallorca’s only goal, demonstrating once again his importance in midfield and ability to arrive in the box with danger.
Beyond the action on the pitch, the spotlight remained on Camp Nou’s new design. With a capacity of 105 thousand spectators, it now holds the title of the largest stadium in Europe. The renovation also positions it as the fifth largest stadium in the world, behind massive venues located in India, North Korea and the United States. The scale of the project reinforces Barcelona’s ambition to remain a global football reference both in sporting terms and in infrastructure.
The return to Camp Nou was more than just a match; it was a landmark moment for a club that has gone through financial restructuring, managerial changes and sporting inconsistencies in recent years. The new stadium represents a fresh start, a symbol of resilience and a reminder of the club’s enduring connection to its supporters. For the players, it offers a stage worthy of their ambitions. For the fans, it restores a sacred space where memories are made. And for Barcelona as a whole, it marks the beginning of a new chapter, one filled with promise, pride and the hope of returning to the heights they once dominated.
