Barcelona triumphantly returned to their rebuilt Camp Nou stadium on Saturday after two and a half years away, defeating Athletic Bilbao 4-0 to go joint top of La Liga.
The Spanish champions had expected to reopen their stadium a year ago, but building delays and other difficulties forced them to wait until their return.
Following Robert Lewandowski’s opening goal, Ferran Torres scored twice. Fermin Lopez also scored in an easy victory over Athletic, who saw Oihan Sancet sent off in the second half.
Hansi Flick’s side drew level with Real Madrid at the top of the league. On Sunday, Los Blancos will visit Elche.
Barcelona blasted off fireworks before and after the game, which drew slightly more than 45,000 people to the three newly opened stands.
Despite the expensive pricing, the match was nearly sold out. Barcelona hopes to be able to open even additional seats by 2026 and reach its full 105,000 capacity the following season.
Flick was able to choose Joan Garcia after the goalkeeper missed the previous nine games due to injury. Garcia helped the squad maintain its first clean sheet since September.
Fans had to wait much longer than expected to return to Camp Nou, but they were soon able to celebrate the team’s first goal at the new stadium.
Veteran striker Lewandowski, wearing the captain’s armband, opened the opener in the fourth minute.
Eric Garcia, who replaced the suspended Frenkie de Jong in midfield, won the ball high up the pitch, and Lewandowski beat Unai Simon at his near post with a powerful low strike.
The Basque goalkeeper got a touch on the ball and should have saved it, but Lewandowski scored his eighth league goal of an injury-plagued, stop-start season.
All-time Barcelona greats Lionel Messi paid an unannounced visit to the refurbished stadium a few weeks ago, and fans screamed his name in the tenth minute, remembering Barcelona’s sparkling past as they entered a new era.
The home crowd also made it obvious that they had not forgotten Nico Williams’ decision not to sign with them, whistling the Spain forward at every opportunity.
Fermin Lopez came close to adding a second for Barcelona, but Simon stopped his shot, and Dani Olmo blasted narrowly wide.
Athletic, under former Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde, made things difficult for Barcelona in the first half but did not pose a significant threat.
Athletic forward Unai Gomez shot over, and Williams curled over before Barcelona extended their lead on the stroke of halftime.
Lamine Yamal put Torres through on goal with the outside of his boot, and the striker beat Simon, who may have saved the ball.
The Catalan giants struck again early in the second half, as Eric Garcia pressed high in Athletic territory before feeding Lopez, who finished beautifully.
Athletic’s terrible afternoon got even worse when midfielder Sancet chopped down Lopez in frustration and was sent off after a VAR review.
Joan Garcia saved Dani Vivian’s header in a good performance between the posts.
Flick brought on Brazilian winger Raphinha in the second half after he had been hurt. Within seconds after his introduction, he fired a shot that went narrowly wide.
Barca completed a great afternoon at home with another fantastic pass from Yamal to Torres, who scored his second goal.
