Barcelona director provides major update on Camp Nou readiness for Athletic Club clash | OneFootball

Barcelona’s long-awaited return to Spotify Camp Nou moved a step closer on Friday, and there is a growing sense of satisfaction inside the club after what was essentially a full-scale dress rehearsal. 

Over 23,000 fans packed into the stadium for an open training session — the first public event in nearly 900 days and according to Joan Sentelles, director of Espai Barça and head of construction, everything went “even better than expected.”

For Barcelona, this wasn’t just another event; it was a symbolic test ahead of a crucial moment. The club hopes to officially return home on November 22, when they host Athletic Club in La Liga. 

Everything is on track

Sentelles confirmed on Catalunya Radio’s Tot Costa that the match is still the target date, with final approval from Barcelona City Council expected soon. 

“Everything went smoothly, as we expected. 

“There are always small issues, but we were prepared for a long list, and it turned out to be very short. Just a few sinks without soap and some missing signage,” he said.

Barcelona trained at Spotify Camp Nou. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Sentelles also underlined the strong cooperation with the City Council, noting that both parties share the same goal, which is to bring Barça back to their spiritual home before the end of November. 

“We’re working together to obtain the licence for the 22nd, and I believe there will be no major problems,” he assured confidently.

From a structural standpoint, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The ongoing technical visits, during which every detail of the new Camp Nou is inspected.

“The technical visits are working very well, very happy with the state of completion of phase 1B, but they are many square meters,” he noted.

If everything goes as planned, the match against Athletic Club will mark the beginning of a new era, one where Barcelona finally reunite with their home, their fans, and their identity. 

Source: SPORT