Barcelona Arrives in Madrid for Copa del Rey; Training Facility Affected by Winds
On Thursday, Barcelona’s training facility experienced structural damage, leading to a temporary halt in renovation activities at Spotify Camp Nou, while the team was compelled to travel to Madrid earlier than planned due to severe winds impacting Catalonia.
A wall at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, which borders a public road, collapsed after the surrounding fencing gave way.
The club reported that there were no injuries resulting from the incident, with the area secured, the road closed, and efforts underway to repair the wall and fencing.
Additionally, construction on the exterior of Camp Nou, which is not anticipated to be completed until at least late 2027, was suspended for the day. However, work inside the stadium continued, as confirmed by a club source.
The forecast of strong winds had already prompted Barça to alter their plans for Thursday’s Copa del Rey semifinal first leg against Atlético Madrid (LIVE on the ESPN App), resulting in the team flying to Madrid a day earlier on Wednesday.
This decision proved prudent on Thursday, as numerous flights and trains departing Barcelona were canceled due to the wind, with the news agency ACN reporting gusts exceeding 100 km/h (62 mph).
By midday, over 60 individuals had sustained injuries in weather-related incidents, with more than 20 requiring hospitalization, while various buildings and trees throughout the city were damaged.
Barcelona’s training ground, situated in Sant Joan Despí on the city’s outskirts, was among the affected locations, as confirmed by the club later on Thursday.
“Due to the intense winds, the training ground has incurred structural damage, including the collapse of a section of a wall and a perimeter fence along the road Francesc Macià, in the area between Pitch 3 and the women’s first team training zone,” the club stated.
“No personal injuries have been reported. Teams have already arrived at the site to ensure the safety of the impacted area and to conduct an initial damage assessment.”
“Consequently, the affected section of the road will be closed to both vehicles and pedestrians until further notice, strictly for safety reasons.”
Work on the exterior of Camp Nou, where Barça resumed playing their home matches in November after nearly two years away, was also paused for safety precautions.
Initially, Barça had aimed to return to Camp Nou in 2024, but they eventually moved back at the end of last year following multiple delays in the renovation.
Currently, they are playing with a limited capacity of approximately 45,000, with one stand behind a goal remaining entirely empty, though they hope to obtain a permit to open it soon, which would increase attendance to over 62,000.
Upon completion of the renovations, with the club recently stating that this will occur by the end of 2027, the capacity is expected to reach 105,000.
Barça arrived in Madrid shortly after midnight on Wednesday, having originally intended to fly on Thursday, for their Copa match against Atlético as the LaLiga leaders aim to gain an advantage ahead of the second leg back at Camp Nou on March 3.
