Barcelona’s Camp Nou Return Marked by 4–0 Rout of Bilbao

Barcelona returned to Camp Nou after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, and the Catalan club’s return could hardly have been more spectacular. Tuesday’s La Liga clash against Athletic Bilbao ended in a commanding 4–0 victory, offering fans a memorable homecoming celebration.

With ten wins from thirteen matches, Barcelona now have 31 points—level with Real Madrid, who have played one game fewer. The Blaugrana are temporarily top of the table, thanks to superior goal difference. Should Real stumble against Elche tomorrow, Barcelona will extend their lead at the summit.

Despite the triumph, only about 45,000 supporters witnessed the game live, as Camp Nou is still undergoing renovation. Once completed next season, the stadium will accommodate up to 105,000 fans.

The scoring began almost immediately. Robert Lewandowski netted in the fourth minute, putting Barcelona ahead early. Ferran Torres then doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time, sending fans into raptures. In the second half, Fermín López struck in the third minute to make it 3–0, with Torres adding the fourth in the 90th.

A decisive moment came midway through the second half when Bilbao midfielder Sancet was shown a red card for fouling López, leaving Bilbao with ten players for the remainder of the match.

Barcelona’s emphatic win reinforced their domestic dominance and highlighted the team’s attacking fluidity, tactical cohesion, and ability to make a statement in front of their fans, even at reduced stadium capacity. The match served as a perfect reintroduction to Camp Nou, signalling a return to both form and fortress status for the Blaugrana.