Only after the end of the general stage of the Champions League do the Blaugrana plan to return to the Camp Nou
Barcelona officially announced that it is extending the use of the city Olympic Stadium Lewis Companys (also known as Montjuic) as their home ground until the end of the group stage Champions League 2024/25.
This move is due, firstly, to UEFA rules prohibiting the change of stadium during the said stage of the Champions League, and secondly, “logistical difficulties and costs associated with the simultaneous operation of two large-capacity stadiums.”
Thus, the Olympic Stadium will host not only the match of the 8th round of the Champions League Barcelona – Atalanta on January 29, 2024, but also both opening home matches of the new year in the championship – against Valencia (January 26) and Alaves (February 2).
Accordingly, for fans attending these matches, the difference in cost will be compensated. Based on the information received, the long-awaited return to the renovated Camp Nou should take place on February 16 – in a home La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano.
Back in 2016, Barcelona presented a project for the reconstruction of the Camp Nou arena, the capacity of which should therefore increase from 99 to 105 thousand spectators. Also, as a result of the renovation, the building will have a roof. Construction was initially expected to be completed by the start of the 2021/22 season.
Three years later, work has still not started, and the completion date of the reconstruction has been postponed until 2024. Then the coronavirus was included in the plans, and only by the spring of 2022 did the Barcelona City Hall allow the club to begin reconstruction of the arena.
Beginning with the 2023/24 season, the Blaugrana have temporarily moved to Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium (aka Montjuic), with the final completion date for the Camp Nou renovation now set at spring 2026.
Hans-Dieter Flick’s team leads the championship after 13 rounds (Real is 6 points behind and has a game in hand), and in the Champions League, with 9 points in four rounds, it ranks sixth. In the next match on November 23, Barcelona will visit Celta.
Source: Sportarena
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