Camp Nou drainage system faces its biggest test yet amid heavy rain in Catalonia

Camp Nou drainage system faces its biggest test yet amid heavy rain in Catalonia The redeveloped Spotify Camp Nou has been a source of great pride for Barcelona , but the stadium’s infrastructure has already faced its share of scrutiny. With heavy rain lashing Catalonia, the pitch and its drainage system have come under the scanner, especially given that the entire project is not complete yet. Barcelona, though, remain firm that the current infrastructure will hold, despite the heavy rains. A system under the microscope Camp Nou’s drainage in focus amid heavy rains. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images) According to Mundo Deportivo , Barcelona are satisfied with how the Camp Nou turf has responded to previous spells of heavy rain, notably in the matches against Feyenoord and Racing Santander. The club point to the science behind the pitch, which is divided into 12 sensorised zones capable of regulating temperature, with machines stored within the stadium’s structure acting on the data provided. The drainage system sends water directly to the sewers, while phytosanitary treatments are also carried out to prevent disease. Overseeing it all is Head Groundsman Octavi Creus, a veteran of nearly four decades who has worked at the club since 2017 and is responsible for the Camp Nou, the Johan Cruyff Stadium and the Ciutat Esportiva pitches. A crunch test for the stadium Camp Nou will host two El Clasicos this month. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) The heavy rains come in a month where Camp Nou is expected to host not one but two El Clasico matches – one in Liga F and the other in La Liga. The severe forecast forced Barcelona to request that the women’s Clasico against Real Madrid, a Liga F fixture at the Camp Nou, be pushed back by two hours, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, due to the risk of flooding and to ease supporter access. The stadium’s infrastructure has previously come under fire too, most notably in January when heavy rain caused water leaks in the press and commentary areas during the match against Oviedo, drawing widespread criticism of the billion-euro project. For Barcelona, ensuring the pitch performs flawlessly is crucial, particularly with the men’s El Clasico against Real Madrid on the horizon. While the drainage system has passed its tests so far, the club acknowledge it is difficult to predict exactly how it will cope with the volume of water expected.