Barcelona's Champions League Venue

Drawing Barcelona against the European champions leaves them uncertain about the hosting venue for the match

, and ASMedia

2025 September 25 . 11:23 PM

2 min read

Barcelona's Champions League Venue

With the new season upon us, football enthusiasts in Barcelona are eagerly awaiting the return of live matches at Camp Nou. However, a series of delays in the stadium's renovation project has thrown a spanner in the works, potentially forcing the club to play their home games at alternative venues.

Camp Nou, one of the world's most iconic football stadiums, is currently undergoing a major renovation. The project includes construction on the South Goal, Main Stand, and Side Stand, with Barcelona awaiting final approval from the Barcelona City Council, Fire Department, Civil Protection, and local police.

Despite the initial approval for the permit to allow fans back in July, the delays have already caused disappointment among fans. The club's academy ground, Estadi Johan Cruyff, has already hosted their first home game of the season, but it seems that Camp Nou may not be ready to welcome fans before their upcoming La Liga games against Getafe and Real Sociedad on September 21, 2025.

The stadium is ready to be used, pending the necessary clearance, and Barcelona may defer their first couple of Champions League matches to another venue, such as RCDE Stadium or Girona's Estadio Municipal de Montilivi. This potential move is due to UEFA's requirement of 10-15 days before the first home match to confirm the home ground for the following Champions League campaign.

Barcelona have been drawn against Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Olympiacos, and Copenhagen in the Champions League. Manager Hansi Flick is unsure where Barcelona will host their Champions League opponents, but it's increasingly likely that PSG will have to travel to the Montjuic instead for a fixture at the old Olympic stadium.

La Masia's Johan Cruyff ground is not suitable for the Champions League, which may force Barcelona to play at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. The renovation of Camp Nou is expected to be completed in December 2024, and the stadium needs to complete two construction phases before it can host Champions League football.

Despite the challenges, Barcelona are one of the favourites for the Champions League this season. Camp Nou is ranked at no.7 on our website's list of the best stadiums in the world, and the club is hopeful that they will be able to return to their home ground soon.

UEFA requires every Champions League stadium to be able to show visible spectators from the 'U' view, and Camp Nou hasn't finished work on the South Goal and Main Stand prior to this month. The club is working diligently to meet these requirements and ensure that they can welcome fans back to Camp Nou as soon as possible.

As the renovation progresses, fans can rest assured that the club is doing everything in their power to ensure that the stadium is up to the highest standards. In the meantime, they will continue to support the team from the stands of Estadi Johan Cruyff or whatever temporary venue they may be playing at.