MADRID: Barcelona said yesterday they are delaying their return to action at Camp Nou until mid-February at the latest as the iconic stadium undergoes modernization and expansion work.
The Spanish giants released a statement stating that their La Liga home games against Valencia and Alaves, scheduled for January 26 and February 2 respectively, will be held at their current stadium, the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Barcelona said UEFA rules prevent clubs from changing stadiums during the early stages of the Champions League and “logistical problems and additional costs” if they use two stadiums at the same time.
Camp Nou may host the Catalan club’s next match against Rayo Vallecano on February 16.
Barcelona said last month they were aiming to return to Camp Nou at the end of 2024 with an initial capacity of 62,000.
The stadium is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2026 with a capacity of 105,000, when the project dubbed “Espai Barca” is completed and the stadium roof is installed.
Modernization work at Camp Nou began in June 2023 but it was delayed due to permit constraints and complaints about working conditions.
Therefore, Barca requested to extend the contract for the use of Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys until March 31, 2025 as a precautionary measure.