Barcelona’s return to Spotify Camp Nou might have to wait until January 2025

FC Barcelona have been playing their home games at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys since last season as they began renovation work at the iconic Spotify Camp Nou.

The idea has always been to return to the stadium towards the end of 2024, in time for the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations.

In fact, club president Joan Laporta has time and again stressed that Barça will be back at the new Spotify Camp Nou before the end of the year, even if it will be operating at only 60% capacity.

“At the end of the year, we will be able to play at Spotify Camp Nou, but I don’t want to give dates. We are convinced that it is a reality and is progressing well,” he had said earlier this month.

Camp Nou return in January

Now, though, according to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona’s return to their renovated stadium will likely be pushed back until late January of 2025.

“The men’s first team will continue to play at the Estadi Olímpic during the first half of the season, with the aim of returning to a reduced-capacity Spotify Camp Nou in the second half of the season,” the club announced in a statement on Tuesday.

Barça begin the second half of the La Liga season with a game against Valencia on the weekend of January 25/26 and as things stand, that appears to be the likely return date to the new Spotify Camp Nou.

The report adds that even though the Catalans return to the stadium for La Liga, they must play the entire first round of the UEFA Champions League at the Montjuic Stadium.

The final game of the League Phase of the UCL will see Barça take on Atalanta on January 29. Once that is out of the way, the Blaugrana can ask UEFA to move their subsequent matches to Camp Nou, provided they qualify for the knockout stages.

So, there may even be an option that Barcelona play at Montjuic against Valencia and then return to Camp Nou in February with the game against Alaves.