Obtaining the first occupancy license for phase 1B of the Spotify Camp Nou will allow FC Barcelona to finalize, 909 days later, the long-awaited return to the culé temple for LaLiga matches. The stadium will host 45,401 spectators against Athletic (16:15 CEST) this Saturday, and Joan Laporta expressed his excitement about achieving a goal that took longer than expected
"It's a return to the future. We will relive the past and we are very eager. It will be a historic moment and we are recovering a home-field advantage that we don't have at Montjuïc. The moment to return will be delightful," commented the Barça president in an interview with 'El Món a RAC 1'.Likewise, Laporta made it clear that the work on the stadium will not stop. For match days, however, there will be 48-hour breaks in the workers' shifts. "We are now fighting for phase 1C (62,000 spectators). This continues," 'Jan' concluded.
Ticket prices for Barça-Athletic and UEFA's 'OK'
In this regard, the Barça president referred to one of the aspects that generated the most comments about the return to Spotify Camp Nou: **the price of tickets** for the match against Athletic.Non-season ticket holders must pay from 159 euros to 471 euros for each ticket, while the general public can purchase their tickets in a range of €199 to €589. For season ticket holders at Montjuïc, there is a 20% discount.
Regarding this, Laporta made it clear that **these prices are exceptional for next Saturday and "will be adjusted"** during the rest of the 25/26 season, as the stadium expands its capacity.
"Based on studies we've conducted, these are the prices we believed we should set. They are a bit above average. Members can get them starting at 159 euros. It's a historic moment. And for the 24,000 season ticket holders, the Tribune costs 52 euros per game and a corner or Gol seat costs 20 euros," argued the Barça president.
Furthermore, Laporta expressed his confidence in closing 2025 with **the North Goal operational (phase 1C)**, as well as UEFA's 'OK' for the Spotify Camp Nou to open for matchday 6 of the Champions League league phase, against **Eintracht** (December 9).
To do this, it is key to enable a section of the stands for local fans, a factor that will prevent Athletic fans from traveling to J13 of LaLiga. "We are conditioning what is necessary to meet UEFA requirements. **If there is no quota of tickets for the visiting fans, we will not be able to play at home, but I am optimistic**," he stated.
Laporta expects a full party at Camp Nou for Barça-Athletic
Regarding Saturday's match, Joan Laporta made it clear what it means for the team to be able to return home, as well as the spectacle of receiving Athletic with the added spice of having Nico Williams on the opposing side.
"It's a good match. There's rivalry and it's a great team. We'll see two playing styles, increasingly similar, with very high-level players and I know that the players and Hansi Flick at the helm are hyper-motivated," the Barça president pointed out during his visit to 'RAC1'.
Barcelona has not played at the Spotify Camp Nou since May 28, 2023, on matchday 37 of LaLiga 22/23. The Catalans thrashed Mallorca (3-0) with a brace from Ansu Fati and another goal from Gavi. Starting in the summer of that year, the stadium began its renovation, and its official reopening, initially scheduled for November 2024, took a year longer than expected.