It’s time. It’s time to play again at the Spotify Camp Nou. There was a lot of anticipation to step back onto the field of the Estadi for a match. The indescribable feeling of entering the Barcelona temple will be experienced again by both the fans and the players this Saturday, November 22 against Athletic. And it will be the first time for eight first-team players. Also for Hansi Flick.
Many successful chapters have unfolded since the last time there was a match at the Spotify Camp Nou. It was on May 28, 2023, when the team led by Xavi Hernandez beat Mallorca with two goals from Ansu Fati and another from Gavi. Since then, a League, a Cup, and a Supercopa have been added to the first team’s trophy cabinet with Flick at the helm. A coach who has never led a game from the technical area of the Estadio, who has also not been able to witness the quality of players like Cubasrí, Olmo, Fermín, or Joan Garcia, who have blossomed.
Eight first-team players have never played at the Spotify Camp Nou. Pau Cubarsí, Marc Bernal, Joan Garcia, Gerard Martín, Casadó, Fermín, Olmo, and Roony have yet to experience playing at the Camp Nou. This list is supplemented by other names from Barça Atlètic who are in first-team dynamics like Dro, Toni Fernández, Jofre Torrents, Kochen, or Eder Aller. Most of them were not present in the 2022/23 season, which saw the last season at the Estadi.
The cases of Casadó and Joan Garcia are special. Both have sat on the Estadi bench before, as they were included in their respective coaches’ squad lists. The midfielder from Sant Pere de Vilamajor alternated between the reserve team and appearances in Xavi Hernandez’s lists. And, on the other hand, the goalkeeper from Sallent was present when Espanyol faced the culers in the previous derbies of the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons.
Ter Stegen and Frenkie de Jong lead the current squad in most appearances at the Spotify Camp Nou along with Pedri and Araujo. It is a coincidence that the podium has a challenging representation in the return home. The Dutchman is suspended due to the double yellow card he received in the victory at Balaídos, while the German goalkeeper and the midfielder from Tegueste are injured.
In this list, the unique precedent of Lamine Yamal stands out, and what a day it was! It was when he debuted with the first team of FC Barcelona. As expected, the current number 10 did it with marks of precocity. At 15 years, 9 months, and 16 days, he was the youngest Barça player of the 21st century to play an official match with the first team, as well as the youngest culer in history to debut in the League. Many records later, many dribbles later, and many goals later, the La Masia product will also experience a special day at the Spotify Camp Nou.
It will also be a magical day for Wojciech Szczesny and Marcus Rashford. It could be the first time they play at the Spotify Camp Nou wearing the FC Barcelona shirt. But they had previously done so with another team. Szczesny scored two goals in the Champions League defending the goal for Arsenal (2011) and Roma (2015). And, on the other hand, the English forward also scored two goals with the Manchester United jersey; one in the 2018/19 Champions League and one in the 2022/23 Europa League, where he scored against Ter Stegen.
Undoubtedly, it will be a day of emotions for all Barcelona fans. Also for these players and for Hansi Flick, who have never played at the Spotify Camp Nou with the FC Barcelona shirt. A dream that everyone would wish to live.
FONT