Barcelona keep El Clasico display plans secret as Mourinho returns to Camp Nou

Spotify Camp Nou will host Sunday’s eagerly awaited El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, with the home club preparing a large supporters’ display before kick-off.

Barcelona has not revealed what the display will show, with the club keeping the details confidential in an attempt to preserve the element of surprise. The planned spectacle will form part of the build-up to the opening match of the 10th round of the Spanish league.

The fixture will also mark Jose Mourinho’s first return to Spotify Camp Nou during his second spell with Real Madrid. His presence adds further significance to an occasion that Barcelona traditionally marks with a coordinated display across the stands.

In last season’s first meeting with Real Madrid after Barcelona returned to the stadium following the completion of renovation work at the club’s home in Les Corts, thousands of blue and dark-red cards were used to create the Barcelona crest and the words “Barcelona’s strength” across large sections of the first and second tiers.

“Barcelona’s strength” is one of the most commonly used messages in the club’s supporters’ displays. The design for Sunday’s match, however, remains unknown.

Barcelona are aiming to present Spotify Camp Nou at its best for a match that carries considerable importance for the team. The club want to show that their defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League was only a temporary setback.

The display is also intended to give Hansi Flick’s players an immediate sense of the support behind them when they walk on to the pitch. Barcelona hope the atmosphere will underline the unique importance of an El Clasico and provide an early lift before the match begins.

Record attendance and ticket income expected

The special atmosphere at Spotify Camp Nou is expected to extend beyond the display, with a large crowd anticipated for the latest meeting between the two Spanish giants.

Last season’s El Clasico at the stadium, played on 10 May, attracted 62,213 spectators. The attendance helped Barcelona record club-record ticket income of 16.5 million euros from the fixture.

Club officials are optimistic that this season’s match can generate even greater revenue. Ticket prices are being operated through a dynamic pricing system, under which costs rise as demand increases.

Demand for Sunday’s game is already at extremely high levels, strengthening Barcelona’s expectation of another substantial financial return from the occasion.