Special first time at Spotify Camp Nou
The moment has finally arrived. The moment to return to playing at Spotify Camp Nou. Everyone’s been itching for it, desperate to feel that matchday buzz on the stadium turf once again. That indescribable sensation of stepping into Barça’s historic home will be back for both the fans and the players this Saturday 22 November against Athletic. And for eight first-team footballers, it’ll be their very first time. The same goes for Hansi Flick.
A lot has happened since the last game at the iconic venue. That was on 28 May 2023, when Xavi Hernández’s side swept aside Mallorca with two goals from Ansu Fati and another from Gavi. Since then, a Liga, a Copa and a Super Cup have all been added to the trophy cabinet, with Flick arriving in the dugout. The German hasn’t yet coached a match in the stadium... That's all about to change.
Eight newbies
Pau Cubarsí, Marc Bernal, Joan Garcia, Gerard Martín, Casadó, Fermín, Olmo and Roony have never played at the Spotify Camp Nou. Add to that a handful of Barça Atlètic players who’ve been training with the seniors, Dro, Toni Fernández, Jofre Torrents, Kochen and Eder Aller.
Casadó and Joan Garcia are special cases. They’ve both sat on the Camp Nou bench before, Casadó under Xavi Hernández when officially still part of the reserve squad, and the goalkeeper when Espanyol faced Barça in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 derbies, but neither actually got to play.
Ter Stegen and Frenkie de Jong, most games
Among the current squad, four of the five captains top the list for most Spotify Camp Nou appearances: Ter Stegen, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Araujo. Ironically, none of the top three will feature in the big homecoming. Frenkie is suspended after his double yellow at Balaídos, while the German keeper and the midfielder from Tegueste are both injured.
One name stands out on the list: Lamine Yamal. His only appearance there so far was his first-team debut. As expected, he did it in record-breaking fashion. At 15 years, 9 months and 16 days, he became the youngest Barça player of the 21st century to make his official debut, and the youngest in club history to play in La Liga. Countless records, dribbles and goals later, the La Masia wonderkid is set for another special night at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Tek and Rashford first for Barça
It’ll also be a magical evening for Wojciech Szczesny and Marcus Rashford. It could be their first time playing at the Spotify Camp Nou in a Barça shirt. But they’ve been here before, in opposition colours.
Tek has two Champions League appearances at the stadium: one with Arsenal (2011) and one with Roma (2015). Rashford has also played here twice with Manchester United, once in the 2018/19 Champions League and once in the 2022/23 Europa League, when he scored past Ter Stegen.