Barcelona Set for Camp Nou Homecoming with Expanded Capacity Against Athletic

Key Takeaways:

• On Saturday, Barcelona will play at Spotify Camp Nou for the first time in two and a half years, facing Athletic Bilbao in the 13th round of La Liga
• The club has secured the 1B license, enabling the stadium to admit up to 45,501 spectators
• Barcelona awaits UEFA approval to host their December 9 Champions League tie versus Eintracht Frankfurt at Spotify Camp Nou

Camp Nou Reopening with Increased Capacity

Barcelona are set to return to their historic home ground, Spotify Camp Nou, this Saturday as they welcome Athletic Bilbao for the 13th matchday of the La Liga campaign. The Catalan giants have officially obtained the highly anticipated 1B license, which authorises entry for up to 45,501 fans. This new development permits access to the entirety of the lateral zone in the newly renovated stadium, supplementing the previously approved License 1A. The organisation remains committed to advancing the next phase of redevelopment, actively pursuing the subsequent License 1C.

We’ve dreamed about the return. Now, it's here.
We’re back home. Back at Spotify Camp Nou 🏟️💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/sMTEuPbUvX

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 17, 2025

Preparations and Licensing Progress

The club staged its first event at Spotify Camp Nou on 7 November, with Hansi Flick’s squad conducting an open training session before an audience of 21,795 supporters. Although License 1A had allowed for fixtures with a 27,000-spectator limit, financial assessments indicated that such an arrangement would not be viable, leading the club to await clearance for a greater capacity.

Champions League Prospects and UEFA Requirements

Barcelona further revealed that they are pending confirmation from UEFA to play their forthcoming Champions League match at Spotify Camp Nou. The fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt is scheduled for 9 December, with the club assured that all necessary requirements have been met.

Historic Home Return

Saturday’s encounter marks Barcelona’s first home match at Camp Nou in two and a half years. Their last fixture in the stadium was a 3-0 victory over Mallorca on 28 May, 2023.