On the evening of 14/9, Barca played against Valencia at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. Afterwards, instead of showering at the stadium, the team returned to their nearby Ciutat Esportiva training center. They traveled in small buses, requiring two trips. Some players, including Robert Lewandowski, had to wait for the second bus.
The Johan Cruyff Stadium, with a capacity of around 6,000, is typically used by Barca's B team and women's team. Sharing facilities with these teams is believed to be the reason the first team had to return to their training ground for showers.
The match against Valencia was Barca's first home game of the season. The defending La Liga champions are using the Johan Cruyff Stadium while Camp Nou undergoes renovations. For the previous two seasons, they played at Montjuic Stadium, owned by the Barcelona city council and formerly the home of city rivals Espanyol.
It remains unclear when Barca will return to Camp Nou. The board initially aimed for 11/2024, but the date has been repeatedly pushed back. According to ESPN, Barca will likely host Getafe on 21/9 at Johan Cruyff Stadium before returning to Camp Nou against Sociedad a week later.
In the 6-0 victory over Valencia, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, and Lewandowski each scored twice. Lamine Yamal was sidelined due to an injury sustained while playing for the Spanish national team. Barca currently sits second in La Liga with 10 points after four matches, two points behind Real.
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Raphinha celebrates a goal during Barca's 6-0 win over Valencia. Photo: FC Barcelona |
Raphinha celebrates a goal during Barca's 6-0 win over Valencia. Photo: FC Barcelona
On 18/9, Barca will begin their Champions League group stage campaign with an away match against Newcastle at St James' Park. Last season, manager Hansi Flick's team reached the semi-finals, where they lost 6-7 on aggregate to Inter.
Thanh Quy (according to Marca, ESPN)
