Club president Joan Laporta confirms everything is “checked and ready”
Barcelona are close to their long-awaited return to the newly redeveloped Spotify Camp Nou, with the first match at the revamped stadium expected later this month.
The club had initially targeted 22 November for the reopening, when Athletic Club were due to visit, but internal discussions have now shifted towards 29 November, according to Cadena Ser.
That day marks the 126th anniversary of the club’s founding, and Barcelona could stage a post-match celebration to commemorate both the anniversary and their return to the stadium.
Club president Joan Laporta confirmed that “everything has been checked and is ready”, and that the club were waiting to “conduct a public test to confirm this”.
“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the return will take place on 22 or 29 November,” said Laporta.
Around 45,000 supporters are expected to be allowed into the ground at this stage, well below the Camp Nou’s eventual capacity but enough to host a La Liga match that is acceptable both safety-wise and financially.
Barcelona had previously delayed a return to Camp Nou because they considered the permitted number of 27,000 spectators unacceptable while they could host as many as 55,000 at Montjuic.
