Barcelona are set to begin their Champions League campaign at the Spotify Camp Nou for the first time in four years when Feyenoord arrive in Catalonia, bringing an end to a period in which the club had been forced to start the competition away from their traditional home.
The last time Barça opened a Champions League campaign at Camp Nou came in the 2022–23 season when Xavi Hernandez’s side marked the occasion emphatically, beating Viktoria Plzen 5–1.
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Barcelona then spent the following season playing their home matches at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys during their period away from Camp Nou.
Their European opener last season there also ended in a convincing victory, with Antwerp beaten 5–0.
Barcelona’s remarkable home record
The numbers show just how strong Barcelona have traditionally been when beginning a Champions League campaign on home soil.
Barcelona have lost just one of their 18 Champions League openers at Camp Nou. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Across 18 previous home openers in the competition, Barça have won 16, drawn once and lost only once.
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They have scored 64 goals while conceding just 14, giving them a formidable record ahead of Feyenoord’s visit.
Bayern Munich are the only side to have spoiled Barcelona’s home debut in a Champions League edition.
Ronald Koeman’s team suffered a 3–0 defeat against the German giants during the 2021/22 campaign.
The only other blemish came in the form of a draw against AC Milan. Barcelona looked set to claim victory after Pedro and David Villa overturned Alexandre Pato’s first-minute opener, only for Thiago Silva to equalise in the 92nd minute in a dramatic 2–2 finish in the 2011/12 season.
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A significant match for Barcelona
Barcelona are set to face Feyenoord. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
The significance of this fixture extends beyond Barcelona’s impressive Champions League home numbers.
The return to Camp Nou gives the opening match a sense of occasion after the club’s temporary spell at the Olympic Stadium.
Last season, Barcelona began their Champions League campaign on the road at Newcastle, where they secured a 1–2 victory thanks to two goals from Marcus Rashford.
Now back at Camp Nou, Barça have the opportunity to extend a remarkable sequence that has seen them dominate their home openers.
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