Barcelona’s new-look Camp Nou got here underneath strain amid heavy rains in Catalonia as Hansi Flick’s facet met Actual Oviedo on Sunday night time.
Such was the extent of the flooding within the stadium that followers, journalists, and even membership president Joan Laporta had been drenched as parts battered the stadium – amid £1.25billion of works being carried out on its intensive renovation.
The Blaugrana moved again into their iconic stadium as just lately as November, after spending their final two phrases enjoying on the close by Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys within the wake of labor beginning in Might 2023.
Barcelona’s return house was delayed by a 12 months as building was hit by numerous hurdles, and the membership are nonetheless unable to seat all of their followers as work on the challenge continues.
However those that did attend the facet’s 3-0 defeat of Actual Oviedo would have been clever to have introduced their umbrella, after rainwater appeared to gush by varied elements of the stadium.
One fan captured video of a stream of water falling by a gap onto the concourse, with followers climbing the steps contained in the stadium to search out their seats probably showered by the fixed gushing.
Rain poured by gaps on the just lately renovated Camp Nou drenching followers and VIPs alike
The press part of the stadium took on the looks of a trench with reporters pressured to place up umbrellas
Journalists had been much more unlikely, with water filling up a walkway like a small canal, and reporters pressured to don waterproof jackets and put up umbrellas to guard their electricals.
As per Spanish outlet Tribuna, Laporta was additionally soaked from his company vantage level, in addition to different VIPs.
Understandably, numerous the 45,000 followers in attendance are thought to have left the conflict early.
‘All of us acquired moist,’ Laporta mentioned on Monday. ‘We knew it may occur, however in the long run, the rain accompanied the victory.
‘It was like witnessing the rain’s baptism at Camp Nou.
‘The stadium is underneath building, and something that must be fastened on the go, we are going to deal with,’ he added. ‘That is regular and will probably be resolved.
‘The stadium is progressing at tempo, and all the things is transferring alongside. License 1C (to extend capability to 62,000) was imagined to be prepared initially of January, however it has been delayed.
‘Now we’ll see if we’ve it for the Mallorca match – I have not given up but.’
The torrential rain got here down like a ‘baptism’ on a formidable efficiency by Barcelona
Supporters returned to Camp Nou as just lately as November with the bottom not but at capability
The Blaugrana moved away from their iconic house in Might 2023 and have spent greater than two seasons lacking out on key income
With work on the challenge ongoing, Barcelona will undoubtedly plug the gaps after the pure stress take a look at the bottom suffered over the weekend.
However the membership will probably be eager to waste no time in guaranteeing that the stadium is as much as customary as quickly as potential in a bid to recapture misplaced income.
Plans are in place to extend Camp Nou’s capability from 99,000 to 105,000 supporters, boosting the membership’s matchday earnings significantly.
At Barcelona’s non permanent house, capability sits at 55,000 – nearly half of what the completed floor will promise.
