Ferran Torres scored twice as Barcelona celebrated their long-awaited return to Camp Nou with a resounding 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
Barcelona climbed to the top of the La Liga standings
with 31 points, level with Real Madrid, who face Elche on Sunday.
This match marked Barcelona’s first game at Camp Nou in 909 days, as the partially renovated stadium welcomed fans back after two and a half years of redevelopment.
Currently, the stadium is operating at a reduced capacity of 45,401, significantly lower than the planned 105,000 seats upon the project’s completion.
The crowd witnessed a dominant performance by the home team in an emotional homecoming, culminating in fireworks after the final whistle.
Robert Lewandowski set the tone early, capitalising on a defensive error by Athletic in the fourth minute. Alex Berenger mishandled the ball while attempting to play out from the back, allowing the Polish striker to seize possession and fire a low shot past Unai Simon at the near post.
How Barcelona Beat Athletic Bilbao?
Barcelona maintained control throughout, relentlessly pressuring an out-of-form Athletic side. Ernesto Valverde’s team has only managed three wins since September, losing six of their last nine league matches.
Eighth in the table with 17 points, Athletic rarely threatened the hosts.
Barcelona scored again in first-half stoppage time. Lamine Yamal’s expertly delivered long ball found Torres, who took the pass perfectly in his stride, raced into the area, and calmly slotted past Simon.
Three minutes into the second half, Barcelona punished another defensive lapse by Athletic. Attempting to play out from the back, the visitors gifted possession to the alert Fermin Lopez, who rifled a powerful strike into the net.
Athletic’s frustrations boiled over when Oihan Sancet received a straight red card in the 53rd minute following a reckless challenge on Lopez.
In the closing stages, Torres added his second goal, rounding off another counter-attack set up by the 18-year-old Yamal, who provided a second sublime assist.
“Coming back to the Camp Nou is a special day,” Lewandowski told DAZN.
“We’re very happy and pleased. For returning with a win. We played very well. Two goals in each half… 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.”
