Barcelona send formal request to La Liga over Camp Nou return with Council decision imminent | OneFootball

Barcelona’s long-anticipated return to the Spotify Camp Nou is edging closer, with the club formally requesting La Liga’s approval to host their upcoming fixture against Athletic Club at the refurbished stadium. 

According to SER, Barça have already submitted the necessary documents to the league, and now await the decisive green light from the Barcelona City Council.

The timeline is tight, and that is putting significant pressure on the club. Barcelona expect to receive the municipal licence today, a development that will determine whether the team can return home as early as this Saturday. 

Without official confirmation soon, ticket sales for the Athletic Club match cannot begin, a delay that would automatically push the return date to at least 29 November, when Barça host Alaves.

Important day for Barcelona

It is said that the process appears to be in its final stretch. Officials now have all the required documentation to approve the licence for Phase 1B of the stadium project, which marks a major step in reopening more sections of the ground. 

Once passed, this licence will allow the club to use the entire Lateral Stand, significantly increasing the current capacity. 

Barcelona are hoping for some good news. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Under the existing Phase 1A authorisation, only 27,000 spectators can attend matches at the stadium. Phase 1B, however, raises that figure to around 45,000.

Barcelona have been preparing for this moment for weeks. The new stadium already hosted its first official activity on 7 November, when the men’s first team held an open training session. 

The event showed that the venue is structurally ready to welcome fans back on a larger scale. Now, only the administrative final stamp is missing.

Perfect timing

Barcelona’s return to Spotify Camp Nou represents a financial boost during a period in which matchday income has been drastically reduced, as well as a sporting advantage at a crucial stage of the season. 

Playing key fixtures in Montjuïc has presented challenges in both atmosphere and logistics, and the return to a partially reopened Camp Nou is expected to energise the squad and reconnect them with the supporters.

Once the approval arrives, Barcelona could complete one of the most anticipated transitions of the season.