Beware Real Madrid, Barcelona's Wind of Revival is Already Blowing

BARCELONA, SATURDAY – The competition at the top of the Spanish League standings has intensified following Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao. This result is not just an ordinary win, but a symbol of Barcelona's resurgence. The return to Camp Nou has proven to be extraordinarily beneficial for the performance of the "Blaugrana."

After appearing inconsistent and failing to record a clean sheet in 10 consecutive matches across all competitions, Barca has finally managed to secure a solid victory. Scoring four goals without conceding is a rather rare achievement for Barca in recent months.

Barca's four goals against Bilbao were scored by Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres (two goals), and Fermin Lopez. Barca outperformed Bilbao in every aspect, including possession (68 percent to 32), shots on target (7 to 2), and expected goals (xG) ratio of 2.08 to 0.75.

In addition to tactical selection, the improvement in Barca's performance cannot be separated from the momentum of their return to the iconic Camp Nou stadium. For 909 days, Barca lived in "exile," moving their base to the Olympic Stadium Lluis Companys or Johan Cruyff Stadium due to the ongoing renovation of Camp Nou. Many of the current Barca players have never experienced the magical atmosphere of Camp Nou.

"It feels amazing. We have long wanted to return to our stadium. Today it has finally come true, and I believe the team played with maximum energy. We demonstrated it on the field and managed to achieve a good result," said Barca defender, Pau Cubarsi, after the match on Sunday (23/11/2025) early morning WIB.

This will continue to be a shrine for Barcelona fans, a shrine where we will have many unforgettable experiences.

Cubarsi is one of many Barca players, such as Marcus Rashford, Dani Olmo, and Fermin Lopez, who have never played at Camp Nou. As a child, Cubarsi often visited Camp Nou to watch Barca matches. Now he can realize his dream by playing at Camp Nou as a player. That motivation is what drives him to perform aggressively in this match.

The return of Barca to Camp Nou was designed in such a way as to create an unforgettable impression for the fans. Almost all the seats were filled. Before the kickoff, Barca presented an entertainment event including a fireworks display to celebrate the homecoming.

For President of Barca, Joan Laporta, returning to Camp Nou is akin to bringing past glory into the future. Camp Nou stands as a witness to Barca's brilliance in the past, having achieved various domestic and European club titles.

The magnificent stadium, with a capacity of around 105,000 seats, is capable of intimidating any opponent of Barca. The applause and shouts of Barca supporters resonate magically at Camp Nou. Unlike at the Olympic Stadium Lluis Companys, the vibrations of playing at Camp Nou feel more like a true home for Barca.

"This will continue to be a temple for Barcelona fans. A temple where we will have many unforgettable experiences. Internationally, this stadium continues to rank high, but most importantly, this stadium was made for Barcelona fans," Laporta said, as quoted by DAZN.

Laporta's statement implies that Barca is ready to become a serious challenger to Real Madrid in the effort to defend the La Liga title. The additional three points against Bilbao boosted Barca's position to the top of the standings, displacing Real, which also has 31 points. Real has the potential to return to the top if they can defeat Elche in another match.

Even more impressive, this resounding victory for Barca was achieved amidst the ruins of a player injury storm. Several key players for Barca, such as Pedri, Gavi, and Rashford, were absent due to injuries. The crisis in the defensive midfielder position worsened after Frenkie De Jong was sidelined due to a red card suspension.

The absence of Pedri and De Jong forced coach Hansi Flick to think creatively to fill the gaps in the midfield. He had no choice but to play Eric Garcia and Fermin Lopez as defensive midfielders. Eric's original position is as a center-back, while Fermin more frequently plays as an attacking midfielder.

Nevertheless, they played very solidly in the midfield. Throughout the match, Bilbao recorded only 23 touches in the opponent's penalty area. Meanwhile, Barca was more dominant, recording 39 touches in Bilbao's penalty area.

"I think we controlled the game, scored at the right moments, and in the end, we deserved to win. It feels (to return to Camp Nou) amazing. The (reception from) the fans as well. Winning 4-0 in the first match here is truly perfect," said Flick.

Through the performance of its players at Camp Nou, Flick intends to convey that Barca is now experiencing a resurgence. The return to Camp Nou has become one of Barca's valuable assets in the struggle to achieve more titles this season. (REUTERS)