Barcelona prepare special Camp Nou display for Mourinho’s return in El Clasico

Barcelona are planning a major crowd display at Spotify Camp Nou before Sunday’s eagerly anticipated El Clasico against Real Madrid, as Jose Mourinho returns to the stadium for the first time during his second spell with the club.

The Catalan club is keeping the design of the display secret, with its exact appearance yet to be revealed. According to Spanish newspaper Marca, details will be announced closer to kick-off as Barcelona seek to preserve the element of surprise.

The fixture will open the 10th round of La Liga, with Barcelona set to stage one of the large-scale choreographies that have become a feature of major occasions at the stadium.

At last season’s first meeting with Real Madrid after Barcelona returned to Spotify Camp Nou following the completion of renovation work at their home in the Les Corts district, supporters filled large sections of the first and second tiers with thousands of blue and dark-red cards.

Those cards formed the Barcelona crest and the words “Barca power”, a phrase commonly used in the club’s fan displays.

Barcelona want the stadium to provide the strongest possible backdrop for Sunday’s match, which carries considerable importance for the team. They are seeking to show that their defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League was only a temporary setback.

The club also hopes the spectacle will inspire Hansi Flick’s players as they emerge onto the pitch and reinforce the importance of the fixture to them.

Record attendance and ticket income expected

The planned choreography will not be the only notable feature of the occasion. Barcelona are also expecting a substantial crowd for the match.

Last season’s El Clasico, played on 10 May, attracted 62,213 spectators to the stands and generated record ticket revenue of 16.5m euros for Barcelona.

Club officials are optimistic that income from this season’s meeting can surpass that figure. Ticket prices are being set through a dynamic pricing system, under which costs rise as demand increases.

Demand for the fixture is currently at very high levels, raising expectations of another significant attendance and a new record in matchday ticket receipts.