A dream fulfilled for Hansi Flick

“A long, long time ago, I was here. I had just been fired from a third-division team, and I told myself I would manage Barcelona at the Camp Nou. Today is a dream come true.”

Those were the words of Hansi Flick, speaking with an emotion rarely seen from the Barcelona head coach. The team’s 4-0 win over Athletic Club on Saturday carried far more weight than just three points. It marked the club’s return to the Camp Nou after 909 days away, following an extensive 1.5billion-euro renovation project that has simultaneously frustrated and fascinated supporters.

For Flick, it was his first match in the iconic ground. For five of his eleven starters, it was their first time playing there at all. For 18-year-old superstar Lamine Yamal, it was only his second appearance on the famous turf. The sense of history was unmistakable.

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A stadium still under construction

Approaching the Camp Nou, the first impression was startling. Huge cranes still stand over the unfinished exterior, giving the impression that hosting a football match there was impossible. But once supporters stepped inside, nostalgia took over.

Barcelona’s board wanted the interior to retain the spirit of the 1957 original. The refurbished concourses feel brighter and more spacious, and the long-hidden facade that was covered ahead of the 1982 World Cup has finally been restored. Fresh paint and new seating contrast with visible construction areas, creating a stadium caught between eras.

An expensive yet irresistible occasion

The demand for tickets was extraordinary. With only 45,157 spectators permitted under the temporary licence, prices soared. Ordinary seats ranged from 199 to 589 euros, though members received a 20 per cent discount.

“We know these are high prices. We will adjust them as the work progresses,” said club vice-president Elena Fort. She also noted that revenue had been sacrificed during the temporary move to the Estadi Johan Cruyff earlier in the season.

Fans did not hesitate. Many were visibly emotional as they walked through the gates, taking photos and shedding tears at the sight of the pitch. One entire stand, the Gol Nord, remained empty, its shiny new seating forming a blaugrana gradient that offered a glimpse of the stadium’s future.

Supporters react to a historic return

The atmosphere before kick-off was part celebration, part disbelief. Mar Lopez captured the feeling for many supporters:

“It’s really powerful to be back. It’s strange that it’s not quite finished, but it’s exciting seeing everyone so enthusiastic.”

Another fan, Xavi Clemente, praised the modernised yet familiar design:

“The essence has been preserved, but it’s been updated. It’s better than I expected.”

His sister Ana had one complaint:

“The seats are narrower. I understand they want more people inside, but it’s cramped.”

Many supporters had flown in from abroad, including Albert Planella, who said:

“I took a flight from London just to be here. The wait has been worth it.”

Yet not all experiences were seamless. The expansion of the presidential box displaced some long-standing season-ticket holders. Damia Obach described the sense of upheaval:

“I’ve been in the same seat my whole life. Now it feels strange to be somewhere else.”

Delays, complications and community tensions

Despite the excitement, the return was marred by the memory of repeated delays. The club originally targeted November 2024 — the 125th anniversary — for the reopening. Instead, construction setbacks pushed the return date several times.

Problems included the discovery of an unregistered high-voltage power line, supply issues after an iron-producing company went bankrupt, and difficulties securing skilled non-EU labour. There were also disputes with construction firm Limak, although the company insisted the project remained on schedule for a 2026 completion.

Local residents raised noise complaints after construction continued past midnight, leading to temporary restrictions on working hours. These limits inevitably slowed progress further.

Access issues caused additional delays. The council refused to grant a licence for the new season due to safety concerns. Although Barça released a video promoting the Joan Gamper Trophy at the Camp Nou, the match never took place.

Instead, the team began the season at Johan Cruyff before returning to the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys for a further five matches.

Supporter Laia Marques summed up the general sentiment:

“I don’t know if it could have been better, but it was worth leaving to have a new stadium. The unrealistic part was the initial deadlines.”

Opening ceremonies and a symbolic kick-off

Festivities began with performances from Catalan groups Figa Flawas and The Tyets. But the most touching moment came when Orfeo Catala, a choral society dating back to 1891, sang the club anthem as the teams entered the pitch.

The biggest question during the week had been who would take the ceremonial kick-off. In the end, the honour went not to a celebrity or former star, but to two of Barcelona’s oldest members, Jori Penas and Juan Canela. Canela, aged 95 and present at the stadium’s inauguration in 1957, delivered the kick-off from his wheelchair.

It was a poignant bridge between eras.

Barcelona shine in a new chapter

Once the match began, the football matched the occasion. Robert Lewandowski scored after just four minutes, echoing the stadium’s inaugural match in 1957 when Barcelona deliberately scored first against a Warsaw XI. Fittingly, Lewandowski, born in Warsaw, became the man to christen the new-look Camp Nou.

Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, heavily pursued by Barcelona in recent summers, was met with loud boos throughout. On this night, though, Barcelona did not need him.

A brace from Ferran Torres, a strike from Fermin Lopez, and some electrifying play from Yamal secured a 4-0 victory. The result lifted Barcelona to the top of La Liga on goal difference.

A home reclaimed, a project still unfolding

As fireworks lit up the sky and the city’s Christmas lights switched on, fans felt the warmth of home after two and a half years away. The stadium remains unfinished and challenges lie ahead, but the emotional return made the delays seem distant.

Barcelona are back at the Camp Nou — not yet complete, but undeniably theirs once again.