Report – How Barcelona might end up playing at Montjuic Stadium until January | OneFootball

Barcelona are accelerating to get the Spotify Camp Nou ready in time to host games as soon as possible, with the idea being that the UEFA Champions League league stage will be played at the venue.

While the stadium was initially expected to be ready for the team’s game against Valencia after the international break, it is now looking increasingly unlikely as the club still have not received the first occupancy license.

La Liga, thus, have given Barcelona the green light to host the game at the Johan Cruyff Stadium on 14th September if the first occupancy license is not granted.

Further, there is a good chance the next game against Getafe is hosted at the same venue as well if the delays in the Camp Nou reopening continue.

The deciding point

As relayed in a recent report by Mundo Deportivo, it is Barcelona’s third home game of the league campaign, which is against Real Sociedad, that will decide where Barcelona play home games until January.

The game, scheduled for 28th September, is crucial because UEFA demands that at least one game be played at the Spotify Camp Nou before Barcelona’s first home European game, which is against PSG.

Barcelona might not return to Camp Nou until January (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

With that clash scheduled for October 1st, the Catalans must host Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou if they hope to play the UCL league stage at the same venue.

After all, there is a grey area on UEFA demanding all games of the league phase be held at the same venue. Should Barcelona fail to host Real Sociedad and subsequently PSG at the esteemed venue, they could well have to complete the league stage at Montjuic.

The domino effect only continues, as Barcelona do not see it feasible to use two different stadiums as home for two different events.

Should Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys serve as home for the UCL, they will use the same stadium for league games until January as well.

At this point, there is still uncertainty over when the first occupancy license will arrive and whether Camp Nou can be used soon.

With every passing day, however, the club lose out on vital revenue through the delay, and it is clear that they do not have time to lose.