UEFA clears Barcelona to host Champions League games at Camp Nou

UEFA has approved Barcelona’s request to hold Champions League matches at their partially renovated Camp Nou, the club announced on Wednesday.

The approval comes just days after Barcelona confirmed their long-awaited return to the stadium for La Liga action, ending more than two years away due to construction setbacks and repeated delays.

The Spanish champions are scheduled to face Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou on December 9, shortly after the venue’s reinauguration against Athletic Bilbao on November 22.

In a statement, the club said UEFA granted approval after confirming that “all the necessary requirements have been met.”

The decision brings to a close a turbulent period marked by multiple postponed reopening dates, construction hurdles, and difficulties obtaining safety licences. These issues even forced Barcelona to play two early-season matches at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium before relocating to the 55,000-seat Olympic Stadium on Montjuic.

Camp Nou will reopen with a temporary capacity of 45,401 spectators, eventually expanding to 105,000 once the upper tier is completed. Earlier in November, the club admitted 23,000 fans for a training session used as a test event.

The prolonged construction delay has delivered a major financial blow to the cash-strapped club, which is investing an estimated €1.5 billion ($1.74 billion) into the stadium’s redevelopment.

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– AFP