Sat Nov 22 17:56:53 UTC 2025: Headline: Torres Brace Propels Barcelona to La Liga Summit in Camp Nou Homecoming
Barcelona, Spain – Ferran Torres struck twice as Barcelona dominated Athletic Bilbao 4-0 on Saturday, leveling them on points with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. The victory marked a triumphant return to a partially reopened Camp Nou, which has been undergoing extensive renovations for over two years.
A crowd of 45,000 fans, the first to witness a match at Camp Nou since May 2023, celebrated as Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring in the 4th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error. Torres then doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time with a composed finish after a brilliant long ball from young star Lamine Yamal.
Fermin Lopez added a third shortly after the restart before Athletic Bilbao’s Oihan Sancet was sent off for a reckless challenge. Torres completed the rout with his second goal, assisted again by Yamal, sealing a comprehensive victory for the Catalan giants.
“We played well from the start and took another three points, but the important thing today is being back at Camp Nou,” Lewandowski said after the match.
The renovated stadium, still under construction with a skeletal upper tier, is expected to hold 105,000 fans upon completion. Barcelona has been playing home games at the Olympic Stadium while the renovations take place. Despite the ongoing work, the atmosphere at Camp Nou was electric, with fans eager to be back in their spiritual home. The club hopes the upgraded stadium will boost revenues and solidify its status as one of the world’s leading football institutions. Real Madrid will look to reclaim the top spot when they face Elche on Sunday.
First Piper 