Barcelona celebrated their return to the rebuilt Camp Nou on Saturday with a dominant 4–0 victory over Athletic Bilbao, marking their first match at the renovated stadium after more than two years away.
Ferran Torres scored a brace, while Robert Lewandowski and Fermin Lopez also found the net as the Spanish champions moved level with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. Athletic’s Oihan Sancet was sent off in the second half to compound the visitors’ frustration.
The club had originally planned to reopen Camp Nou a year earlier, but construction delays pushed their homecoming to November 2025. More than 45,000 spectators filled the reopened stands, with fireworks lighting up the stadium before and after the match.
Lewandowski opened the scoring in the fourth minute, capitalising on a high press from Eric Garcia, who won the ball in midfield. The Polish striker beat goalkeeper Unai Simon with a low shot that slipped through the keeper’s hand, giving him his eighth league goal of the season.
Fans paid tribute to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi by chanting his name in the 10th minute, continuing a tradition honouring the club’s iconic No. 10.
Barcelona pressed for a second goal as Lopez and Dani Olmo went close, but Athletic also created moments of danger through Unai Gomez and Nico Williams, who was loudly booed throughout the match for rejecting a move to the Catalan club.
Just before half-time, Lamine Yamal released Torres with a superb pass, and the forward doubled Barcelona’s lead with a finish that Simon again failed to keep out.
Barcelona extended their advantage early in the second half when Eric Garcia won possession high up the pitch and set up Lopez, who finished calmly to make it 3–0.
Moments later, Athletic’s Sancet was shown a red card after a reckless challenge on Lopez, following a VAR review.
Goalkeeper Joan Garcia, returning from a lengthy injury spell, produced key saves—most notably tipping over a header from Dani Vivian—to secure Barcelona’s first clean sheet since September.
Raphinha made his return from injury as a second-half substitute and nearly scored with his first attempt, which drifted just wide.
Barcelona sealed the victory late on when Yamal delivered another incisive pass to Torres, who slotted home his second of the match to complete the rout.
Hansi Flick’s side now shift attention to their next fixtures as they aim to maintain pressure on Real Madrid in the title race.