By Michael Nsikan Richard – November 7th, 2025.
Spanish media outlet Catalan News reports that Barcelona returned to their iconic Spotify Camp Nou stadium on Friday, November 7th, 2025, conducting an open training session in front of over 20,000 enthusiastic fans.
This marked a historic moment for the club, as it was the first time a ball had been kicked at Camp Nou since May 2023, when Barcelona played against RCD Mallorca, representing an 895-day absence from their legendary home ground.
Event Details
The training session commenced at 11:00 am CET, with stadium gates opening at 9:30 am to allow early entry for fans. The capacity was set at 23,000 spectators, with tickets selling out within days of going on sale.
All proceeds from ticket sales were directed to the Polseres Blaugrana project, a Barcelona Foundation that supports the emotional well-being of hospitalized children.
Purpose and Technical Significance
Goal.com reports that the session served as a crucial operational test for the partially redeveloped stadium, allowing the club to verify the new infrastructure under live conditions, including testing systems, access points, and various aspects of the facility.
This technical evaluation represents a critical step towards securing the necessary licenses for competitive fixtures.
Stadium Renovation Status and Timeline
The €1.5 billion renovation project has experienced considerable delays from its original timeline. Barcelona initially planned to return to a partially opened Camp Nou for the club’s 125th anniversary in November 2024, but this deadline was missed by almost a full year, with the project reportedly running 317 days behind schedule as of mid-October 2025.
During the renovation period, the team has been playing at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic.
Goal.com reports that Barcelona already holds the first occupancy license for Phase 1A and the city council had previously granted permission to reopen Camp Nou for 27,000 spectators under this phase. However, the club made the strategic decision to wait for the Phase 1B license before hosting competitive fixtures.
Construction Controversies
The project has faced scrutiny beyond timeline delays. According to reports by Goal.com, Barcelona’s own technical experts rated the winning bid from Turkish construction firm Limak as the worst option, scoring it 50 out of 100 and placing it last behind rival bids from Ferrovial and FCC, with concerns cited over Limak’s ability to justify its construction schedule.
The primary reason for selecting Limak despite the negative internal review was the firm’s aggressive timeline, as it was the only bidder to guarantee a return by November 2024.
Next Steps and Official Match Return
Catalan News reports that President Joan Laporta stated he hopes to receive the Phase 1B license by the end of November, which would allow Barcelona to host games with a capacity of 45,000 fans.
ESPN also reports that Laporta indicated the plan is to return for official games later in the month, targeting either the LaLiga fixture against Athletic Club on November 22 or the match against Alaves on November 29, which coincides with the club’s 126th anniversary.
Should these dates prove unfeasible, Barcelona would then host Atletico Madrid in December.
From a financial perspective, Laporta emphasized that returning to the home stadium is very important for Barcelona, as it will allow them to triple matchday revenue when fully completed, with the final capacity reaching 105,000 seats.
He also noted that the redeveloped Camp Nou would serve as a valuable tool for attracting sponsors and investors.
This training session represents a major event in Barcelona’s journey back to their home stadium, providing both a symbolic and emotional homecoming for fans and a practical test of the renovated facilities ahead of competitive action returning to the iconic venue.
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