Barcelona push back Camp Nou return as fresh delays scupper El Clasico plans
Barcelona are unlikely to return to the Nou Camp this season having requested to extend their stay in their temporary home. The Catalan giants are playing their matches at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys – a venue operated by the city council – while major renovations are made to their iconic home. Barcelona’s Camp Nou return looks unlikely to happen this seasonX / @Obras_Camp_Nou Work started in the summer of 2023 to increase the Camp Nou’s capacity to 105,000, a move that will make it the largest stadium in European football. However, fans are likely to have to wait until next season to return home. While there’s still a chance that they could return to the Camp Nou this season, it’s reported by The Athletic that a request has been made to stay at their temporary home until May 20. That is three days after their final scheduled home game of the season against Villarreal in La Liga. It means that their scheduled El Clasico clash with Real Madrid on May 11 now looks increasingly likely to be played at the 54,000 Estadi Olimpic. The location of that fixture had been steeped in uncertainty with Barcelona‘s original hope to be back in the Camp Nou for their 125th anniversary in November – albeit at a reduced capacity. They had then hoped to be home by the start of 2025, however, delays in the construction work mean that they’re still not able to return. El Clasico could have been without a location after The Rolling Stones booked the Estadi Olimpic to host the opening show of their European tour on May 10 and 11. That led to suggestions that the fixture could be played outside of Spain. While the USA appeared unlikely due to broadcasting complications, London’s Wembley Stadium and France’s Stade De France had been discussed as potential venues. GettyBarca have requested to stay at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys until the end of the season[/caption] But that date has not been confirmed by the Rolling Stones with Barcelona believing that the stadium won’t be used for any concerts in May. As for El Clasico, the top option for Barcelona’s hierarchy remains for the game to be played at the Camp Nou, but their latest request suggests that they are maybe hedging their bets over the venue. Any return to the Camp Nou would involve the stadium being partially opened, with the full building work not expected to be completed until the summer of 2026. Barcelona are enjoying a decent season, but sit third in La Liga – seven points behind leaders Real Madrid. They did, however, progress to the last-16 of the Champions League by finishing second in the 36-team League Phase.
Barcelona are unlikely to return to the Nou Camp this season having requested to extend their stay in their temporary home.
The Catalan giants are playing their matches at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys – a venue operated by the city council – while major renovations are made to their iconic home.
Work started in the summer of 2023 to increase the Camp Nou’s capacity to 105,000, a move that will make it the largest stadium in European football.
However, fans are likely to have to wait until next season to return home.
While there’s still a chance that they could return to the Camp Nou this season, it’s reported by The Athletic that a request has been made to stay at their temporary home until May 20.
That is three days after their final scheduled home game of the season against Villarreal in La Liga.
It means that their scheduled El Clasico clash with Real Madrid on May 11 now looks increasingly likely to be played at the 54,000 Estadi Olimpic.
The location of that fixture had been steeped in uncertainty with Barcelona‘s original hope to be back in the Camp Nou for their 125th anniversary in November – albeit at a reduced capacity.
They had then hoped to be home by the start of 2025, however, delays in the construction work mean that they’re still not able to return.
El Clasico could have been without a location after The Rolling Stones booked the Estadi Olimpic to host the opening show of their European tour on May 10 and 11.
That led to suggestions that the fixture could be played outside of Spain.
While the USA appeared unlikely due to broadcasting complications, London’s Wembley Stadium and France’s Stade De France had been discussed as potential venues.
But that date has not been confirmed by the Rolling Stones with Barcelona believing that the stadium won’t be used for any concerts in May.
As for El Clasico, the top option for Barcelona’s hierarchy remains for the game to be played at the Camp Nou, but their latest request suggests that they are maybe hedging their bets over the venue.
Any return to the Camp Nou would involve the stadium being partially opened, with the full building work not expected to be completed until the summer of 2026.
Barcelona are enjoying a decent season, but sit third in La Liga – seven points behind leaders Real Madrid.
They did, however, progress to the last-16 of the Champions League by finishing second in the 36-team League Phase.
