Barcelona made a spectacular and emotional return to their iconic Camp Nou stadium on Saturday, delivering a commanding 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao. The match marked the club's first fixture at their home ground in 909 days amid a major redevelopment project.
A Night of Celebration and Dominance
The atmosphere was electric as 45,401 fans, the current reduced capacity, witnessed a dominant performance from the home side. The emotional homecoming was capped with fireworks after the final whistle, celebrating a win that sent Barcelona to the top of the LaLiga table with 31 points, level with rivals Real Madrid.
Veteran striker Robert Lewandowski set the tone for the evening, capitalising on a defensive error from Athletic's Alex Berenger in the fourth minute. The Polish international seized the loose ball and fired a low shot past goalkeeper Unai Simon for an early lead.
Torres Shines in Second Half Rout
Barcelona doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time. A sublime long pass from the 18-year-old Lamine Yamal found Ferran Torres in space, who calmly slotted the ball home. The pressure continued after the break, with Fermin Lopez punishing another Athletic mistake just three minutes into the second half, rifling a powerful strike into the net.
Athletic's frustrations were compounded when Oihan Sancet received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Lopez in the 53rd minute. Ferran Torres then rounded off the scoring with his second goal of the night, finishing off a counter-attack once again orchestrated by the impressive Yamal.
An Unforgettable Homecoming
The victory was a perfect celebration for Barcelona's return to their spiritual home. Speaking after the match, Robert Lewandowski told DAZN, "Coming back to the Camp Nou is a special day. We're very happy and pleased. For returning with a win. We played very well."
He added, "To be honest, it's different when we play here. We gain in confidence. I'm 37 years old, but it was also special for me to play here again. Even better to score a goal." The win leaves an out-of-form Athletic Bilbao, who have lost six of their last nine league fixtures, in eighth place with 17 points.
