Barcelona’s new-look Camp Nou came under pressure amid heavy rains in Catalonia as Hansi Flick’s side met Real Oviedo on Sunday night.
Such was the extent of the flooding in the stadium that fans, journalists, and even club president Joan Laporta were drenched as elements battered the stadium – amid £1.25billion of works being carried out on its extensive renovation.
The Blaugrana moved back into their iconic stadium as recently as November, after spending their last two terms playing at the nearby Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in the wake of work starting in May 2023.
Barcelona’s return home was delayed by a year as construction was hit by a number of hurdles, and the club are still unable to seat all of their fans as work on the project continues.
But those who did attend the side’s 3-0 defeat of Real Oviedo would have been wise to have brought their umbrella, after rainwater appeared to gush through various parts of the stadium.
One fan captured video of a stream of water falling through an opening onto the concourse, with fans climbing the stairs inside the stadium to find their seats likely showered by the constant gushing.
Rain poured through gaps at the recently renovated Camp Nou drenching fans and VIPs alike
The press section of the stadium took on the appearance of a trench with reporters forced to put up umbrellas
Journalists were even more unlikely, with water filling up a walkway like a small canal, and reporters forced to don waterproof jackets and put up umbrellas to protect their electricals.
As per Spanish outlet Tribuna, Laporta was also soaked from his corporate vantage point, as well as other VIPs.
Understandably, a number of the 45,000 fans in attendance are thought to have left the clash early.
‘We all got wet,’ Laporta said on Monday. ‘We knew it could happen, but in the end, the rain accompanied the victory.
‘It was like witnessing the rain’s baptism at Camp Nou.
‘The stadium is under construction, and anything that needs to be fixed on the go, we will address,’ he added. ‘This is normal and will be resolved.
‘The stadium is progressing at a good pace, and everything is moving along. License 1C (to increase capacity to 62,000) was supposed to be ready at the start of January, but it has been delayed.
‘Now we’ll see if we have it for the Mallorca match – I haven’t given up yet.’
The torrential rain came down like a ‘baptism’ on an impressive performance by Barcelona
Supporters returned to Camp Nou as recently as November with the ground not yet at capacity
The Blaugrana moved away from their iconic home in May 2023 and have spent more than two seasons missing out on key revenue
With work on the project ongoing, Barcelona will undoubtedly plug the gaps after the natural stress test the ground suffered over the weekend.
But the club will be keen to waste no time in ensuring that the stadium is up to standard as soon as possible in a bid to recapture lost revenue.
Plans are in place to increase Camp Nou’s capacity from 99,000 to 105,000 supporters, boosting the club’s matchday earnings considerably.
At Barcelona’s temporary home, capacity sits at 55,000 – almost half of what the finished ground will promise.
