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Barcelona fans will have to settle for a cosy 6,000-seat Estadi Johan Cruyff this Sunday, as the club’s hoped-for return to Camp Nou remains off the cards. The La Liga game with Valencia kicks off at 20:00 Morocco time, with Sant Joan Despí stepping in as the temporary home.
The Catalans had been banking on reopening Camp Nou with a 27,000-seat capacity, but the city council refused the First Occupancy certificate after last-minute inspections. Moving to Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys was quickly scrapped, with the pitch hosting a Post Malone concert just two days before the game.
Preparations at Johan Cruyff have been… leisurely. Mundo Deportivo reports “complete silence around the stadium premises,” with just a handful of workers installing VAR supports, testing lights, and doing routine maintenance. The stadium will host Barcelona Women’s opener against DUX Logroño on Friday, giving staff a tight schedule to get everything ready.
La Liga’s inspection team has demanded upgrades, including VAR camera placements and a fibre optic system for broadcast reliability. Club staff are working “around the clock” to tick all the boxes.
Fans will notice the difference. With under 6,000 seats, less than a quarter of those who would have attended at Camp Nou can watch in person. Barcelona plan to create a VIP area to soften the financial blow.
For now, Barca’s exile from their legendary stadium continues. Valencia at Johan Cruyff kicks off the first three home games of the season away from Camp Nou, with Getafe and Real Sociedad likely at Montjuïc’s Olímpic Lluís Companys. The Champions League showdown with PSG on October 1 may also take place there.
Barcelona are taking it “game by game,” but one thing is clear: their iconic home won’t welcome fans back this month.
