New Delhi: Barcelona have confirmed their return to Camp Nou will be delayed until mid-February with stadium going through expansion and renovation. The Spanish club have released a statement and acknowledged that their La Liga home games against Valencia and Alaves, scheduled provisionally for January 26th and February 2nd respectively will be played in Montjuic Olympic stadium, their residence since 2023-24 season.
Barcelona have mentioned UEF’s rules are preventing the club from returning to the iconic stadium during the Champions League’s opening phase. Further they noted that it would cause both “logistical and financial” problems if both the ground were kept open at the same time.
Official: Barcelona have confirmed to its socios that the first two matches of February against Alavés, Valencia and Atalanta will still be played at Montjuïc. @FCBarcelona
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) November 20, 2024
It is expected that Camp Nou will feature in the Catalonian side’s home match against Rayo Vallecano on February 16th. Last month, Barcelona shared their desire to return to Camp Nou by the end of this year. The venue had an initial capacity of 62,000 and now has been expected to accommodate around 105,000 spectators. The project known as “Espai Barca” is expected to be finished by 2026, with the stadium roof installed.
Camp Nou’s renovation started in June 2023, but issues regarding permits and working conditions slowed down the entire process. This led to Barca extending their contract for the use of Montjuic Stadium until March 31, 2025.
In La Liga, Barca have enjoyed a successful season under new manager Hansi Flick. They are currently at the top of the table in the top flight of Spanish football, with just two losses after matchday 11. Their wins include a 4-0 victory over arched rivals Real Madrid in Santiago Bernabeu. They are placed sixth in the UEFA Champions League, with just one loss from four games in the competition.
Barcelona have confirmed their delay in return to Camp Nou stadium due to logisctical complexities. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
