Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that the club has requested approval from UEFA to play their opening UCL game away from the Camp Nou, as it is still unavailable for use.
The Catalan giants have played home matches for the past two seasons at the Olympic Stadium, due to ongoing renovations at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Despite initial plans of a return to the iconic stadium last November, the completion date has been pushed back due to licensing problems regarding the re-opening.
Speaking in an interview, Laporta confirmed that the team will return to Camp Nou next season, with a specific date yet to be confirmed.
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“What we have asked UEFA is to allow us to play the first match away from home,” Laporta said. “The draw is on Aug. 28, and we will see what happens then. I hope UEFA allows us to play away. We have an increasingly good relationship with UEFA.
We are not considering the possibility of not returning [this coming season], the budgets we have drawn up for next season and all the commitments we have based on the financing contract are based on returning to Spotify Camp Nou”, he continued.
“We would have to start all over again. We are used to dealing with complicated situations, but we always hope that when the time comes, the waters will be calmer.
Here, we always have to be alert and attentive to any unforeseen events that may arise, but our logic is that we will be able to return to Spotify Camp Nou as soon as possible and thus fulfill, as we will fulfill, everything budgeted in the financing contract we have with [the club’s financial advisors] Goldman [Sachs]”, the 63-year-old concluded.
The group stages of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League season will commence on the 16th of September, with the draw expected to take place on August 28.
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