Since its inauguration in 1957, the Camp Nou has become the setting for memorable nights and the home of the best players in the world. 66 years later, today Sunday May 28, 2023, Barcelona will play its last game at the stadium before the remodel begins. Thus, a stage full of historic nights that will remain forever in the Barça memory will come to a close.
The Camp Nou, currently called Spotify Camp Nou due to sponsorship by the Spotify company, is a sports venue owned by Fútbol Club Barcelona, located in the Les Corts district of the city of Barcelona, Spain. It was inaugurated on September 24, 1957, being the stadium with the largest capacity in Europe and the third worldwide.
Also read: With an emotional video, Sergio Busquets announced that he is leaving Barcelona
The capacity of the stadium has varied from its initial capacity of around ninety thousand seats, to its maximum capacity of one hundred and twenty thousand spectators, with the construction of the third tier for the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Its current capacity since 1998 is below one hundred thousand spectatorsafter implementing the seating locations for the entire stadium and being listed by UEFA with the highest distinction, “elite stadium”.
Chronology of historical parties in the Camp Nou
September 4, 1957 – Opening game
Barça opened the Camp Nou on September 24, 1957 against a selection of players from Warsaw (Poland). The match ended with a 4-2 win for the Barcelona fans, and with 90,000 spectators, the maximum capacity at the beginning. Eulogio Martínez achieved the first goal in the history of the field.
November 23, 1960 – Classic European Cup
Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the second leg of the round of 16 of the European Cup, current Champions League. It meant the first elimination of the white club in the competition, which had won the first five editions. Evaristo decided the match with a memorable header.
December 22, 1973 – ‘The Flying Dutchman’
In his debut season, Johan Cruyff established himself as a Barça hero with an acrobatic shot that he stabbed with the sole of his boot. With an angelic plasticity, the nicknamed ‘flying Dutchman’ printed an eternal stamp for the imaginary culer, still not aware that they had before them who he would mark a before and after in the history of the club.
April 16, 1986 – The night of Pichi Alonso
Ángel ‘Pichi’ Alonso, a regular substitute, became the hero of one of the most memorable comebacks in the Culer feud, scoring a hat-trick. After the 3-0 defeat against Göteborg, Barça replied with the same score in the second leg, and qualified on penalties for the Champions Cup final, which they lost to Steaua Bucharest.
June 7, 1992 – First “Tenerife League”
First league won by the ‘Dream Team’, consequence of Tenerife’s victory against Real Madrid on the last day. Barça, second in the standings, beat Athletic Club 2-0 and the Camp Nou exploded in jubilation after being crowned champion.
June 20, 1993 – Second “Tenerife League”
The following year the feat of Tenerife was repeated. The Catalans, who once again did not depend on themselves to be champions, did their homework at home (1-0) against Real Sociedad. For their part, Tenerife, led by Jorge Valdano, repeated their victory against Real Madrid and put the title on a platter for Barcelona.
June 17, 2001 – Rivaldo’s Chile
The match between Barcelona and Valencia on the last day of the league gave the last ticket to play the Champions League the following season. Towards the end of the match, Rivaldo controlled a ball thrown by Frank de Boer with his chest and executed a bicycle kick from outside the box that left the entire stadium stunned.
September 3, 2003 – Ronaldinho debuts
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira ‘Ronaldinho’ made his debut at 12 in the morning after Sevilla refused to advance the game one day, in what is known as ‘gazpacho night’. The day the Brazilian star appeared before his new audience, he received the ball, went out in slalom and from 25 meters away executed a violent blow that bounced off the crossbar and slipped into the goal. It was Ronaldinho’s first great night, but it wouldn’t be the last.
May 1, 2005 – Messi’s first goal
Leo Messi, still a teenager (17 years old), made his debut as a Barça goalscorer against Albacete. Ronaldinho sent a pass to the Argentine star, who stung a Vaseline that would become one of his hallmarks. That day, ‘the flea’ began the succession from him to the throne to ‘Ronnie’.
April 18, 2007 – Messi’s Maradonian goal
In the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals, Leo Messi emulated the goal scored by his counterpart Diego Armando Maradona against England in the 1986 World Cup. Even with the ’19’ on his back, Leo got away from all the defenders and the goalkeeper rival with astonishing ability to achieve one of his most iconic goals as a Barça player.
November 29, 2010 – Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid
Mourinho’s first visit to the Camp Nou as white coach. The team led by Guardiola culminated his masterpiece in one of the best games in Barcelona’s history.
March 7, 2012 – Messi’s poker
Leo Messi became the first player in history to achieve 5 goals in the same game in the Champions League. He did it in the second leg of the round of 16 against Bayer Leverkusen.
Besides: Barcelona crowned champion of the Spanish league
March 8, 2017 – Comeback against PSG
Luis Enrique’s Barcelona achieved the greatest comeback in the history of the Champions League, after overcoming the 4-0 loss suffered in the first leg. Neymar Jr led one of the most famous nights at the Camp Nou and Sergi Roberto scored the goal of his life in discount to get through to the quarterfinals.
May 28, 2023 – The last day of the old Camp Nou
The Spotify Camp Nou will close its doors just after the Mallorca game, a meeting that will mean the farewell in Barcelona for Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, two of its all-time great players.
November 29, 2024 – Planned date to inaugurate the new stadium.
The new stadium would have to be ready before November 29, 2024, the date on which Barça will celebrate its 125th anniversary.