Return to Camp Nou delayed yet again due to financial considerations and difficulty obtaining permit
Barcelona will play their upcoming home match against Girona at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys at Montjuic, with the long-awaited return to the redeveloped Spotify Camp Nou postponed once more.
The Catalan side had hoped to host the fixture on 18 October at Camp Nou. However, they have failed to get the elusive First Occupancy Licence from the Barcelona City Council.
Barcelona have played their last La Liga home game against Real Sociedad and the Champions League home match against Paris Saint-Germain at Montjuic. The earlier home games were played at the 7,000-capacity Estadi Johan Cruyff, due to the Montjuic venue being unavailable.
Sources close to the club said Barcelona officials also see the benefits of playing at Montjuic for now instead of Camp Nou. The club’s traditional home ground can only be reopened at a limited capacity at this stage, with just 27,000 seats available while work continues in other sections.
In contrast, Montjuic offers around 50,000 seats. Barcelona have already suffered considerable losses of matchday revenue due to two home games played at the Estadi Johan Cruyff and have kept this important factor under consideration.
Since Barcelona played their first Champions League home fixture at Montjuic, it means they will also play their next home games there, at least in the league phase. Uefa has restrictions about changing home venues in the middle of a season.
If a return to Camp Nou is managed by February, then the club could switch their home venue for European games in the window between the league phase and the knockout stages.
