Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 1:02 p.m.
Barça’s long-awaited return to the Camp Nou will have to wait. The Barça team will not return to its iconic home until at least mid-February, as the club announced yesterday in an email addressed to season ticket holders who had already requested access to the stadium in the event of a hypothetical return, initially scheduled for the final stretch of this year, coinciding with the 125th anniversary of the club, founded on November 29, 1899.
The institution attributes the decision to UEFA regulations, which prevent changing stadiums while the initial phase of the Champions League is being played. The logistical difficulties and the extra financial cost that would be involved in maintaining the Camp Nou and Montjuic Olympic Stadium facilities until this round of the Champions League concludes have forced the return to be postponed.
Thus, Barça will play the match on the last day of the group stage of the Champions League at the Lluis Companys, on Wednesday, January 29 against Atalanta. Likewise, the duels on matchdays 21 and 22 of the League against Valencia (January 26) and Alavés (February 2) will also be held in Montjuic.
«The validity of the Spotify Camp Nou 2024-25 Pass will be postponed until the effective date of return to the aforementioned stadium. In this case, the proportional price corresponding to the matches that cannot be played will be deducted from the total price indicated,” indicates Barça in its statement, in reference to deadlines that would place the return for the league duel against Rayo Vallecano corresponding to day 24, set for the weekend of February 15 and 16. In principle, a hypothetical Champions League playoff would also be held in the remodeled culé stadium, if the Barça team does not manage to get directly into the round of 16 through one of the top eight places in the initial phase.
