Barca go back to the future

The frustration of endless delays and the sting of the critics’ gibes will finally be put to one side tomorrow as Barcelona return to their partially rebuilt Camp Nou home.

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The club’s ambition is to have a state-of-the-art modern stadium to match a team catapulted back into the European elite, although both are still works in progress.

Reconstruction continues at Camp Nou, which is now not expected to be completed until the summer of 2027 a year behind schedule - when its roof is lifted into place.

Likewise, Hansi Flick’s young side charged to a domestic treble last season but came up short in the Champions League, beaten in a thrilling semifinal by Inter Milan and hoping to go one step further this season.