Barca Universal
·20 August 2025
UEFA rejects Barcelona’s request to play first CL game away from home

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Yahoo sportsBarca Universal
·20 August 2025
Barcelona’s plans for the Champions League have taken a setback after UEFA rejected the club’s request to begin the competition with an away fixture.
According to TV3, the Catalan giants had contacted the governing body in mid-July, asking to avoid playing their first European clash at home due to ongoing work at the Camp Nou.
While UEFA confirmed receiving the request, the organisation made it clear from the outset that such demands have never been accepted in the past.
The federation reminded Barça that it has never placed conditions on the draw and would not make an exception this time.
This means the Blaugrana will now have to wait until August 28 for the group stage draw to discover whether luck is on their side.
If the draw places Barcelona away from home, Hansi Flick’s men will start their campaign on foreign soil between September 16 and 18, with their European debut at the Camp Nou then set for September 30 or October 1.
Barcelona are facing uncertainty regarding Camp Nou return. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
However, if fate dictates otherwise, Barça may be forced to welcome Europe’s elite in a stadium that is still under construction.
The concerns do not stop with the Champions League. Barcelona are also facing the possibility of starting their La Liga campaign without fans inside the Camp Nou.
The renovation project is still incomplete, with two stands yet to meet the required safety standards.
The club is pushing hard to reopen the ground under what they call “phase one” of the works, which would allow them to bring supporters back as soon as possible. But the reality is that the chances of achieving this in time remain slim.
If the required permissions are not secured quickly, Barça’s first home match of the league season could be played behind closed doors, a scenario the club is desperate to avoid.