Barcelona celebrated their return to Camp Nou with a dominant 4–0 victory over Athletic Club, extending their unbeaten run in LaLiga meetings between the sides to 12 matches (W10, D2). The defeat leaves Athletic winless in five away league games this season (D1, L4).
The home side were immediately on the front foot, backed by a lively Camp Nou crowd after months away from their traditional home. Their intensity was too much for Athletic to handle, and within four minutes Robert Lewandowski drilled in the opener after a flowing early move.
Athletic barely ventured into Barcelona’s half during the opening exchanges, and with both sides holding high defensive lines, the midfield became congested. Ferran Torres had a smart finish ruled out for offside, while Nico Williams provided Athletic’s few moments of threat in transition.
The visitors twice failed to take presentable chances before the break. Unai Gómez first shot straight at Joan García from Williams’ knock-down, then skied another opportunity minutes later. Barcelona punished those misses in first-half stoppage time when Torres burst through and slipped his finish beneath Unai Simón to make it 2–0.
Barcelona made the perfect restart. Just three minutes into the second half, Fermín López exchanged passes with Eric García before driving home a powerful third. Athletic’s afternoon worsened soon after when Oihan Sancet was sent off following a VAR review for a reckless challenge on López.
Ernesto Valverde responded with a triple substitution, but the pattern of the match barely changed. Barcelona controlled possession, pushed Athletic deeper, and continued to create chances.
Dani Vivian went close from a corner, and Dani Olmo fired narrowly wide, but the clearest moment came in stoppage time. Lamine Yamal produced a brilliant assist to set up Ferran Torres, who capped the performance with Barcelona’s fourth.
Barcelona have not lost a home league match to Athletic since November 2001 (W21, D3), and this latest victory – their sixth home league win of the season – comes at their third different stadium in the campaign (Camp Nou, Estadi Johan Cruyff and Estadi Lluís Companys).
A stylish performance, a clean sheet, and a triumphant Camp Nou return made it a day to remember for the Catalans.
