Barcelona: Barcelona received a major boost on Wednesday after UEFA officially approved the club’s request to host upcoming Champions League fixtures at the partially reconstructed Camp Nou stadium. The decision comes just days after the Catalan giants confirmed their long-awaited return to domestic league action at their historic home, ending more than two years of displacement due to renovation work.
The European football body granted approval once Camp Nou met all mandatory safety and operational requirements. Barcelona is now set to welcome Eintracht Frankfurt on December 9, marking their European return to the venue shortly after its reinauguration on November 22 against Athletic Bilbao in La Liga.
A Chaotic Renovation Timeline
Barcelona’s return follows months of uncertainty, construction delays, and repeated postponements of the stadium’s reopening. A failure to secure timely safety licences forced the club into a deeply embarrassing situation earlier this season, compelling them to host two official matches at their 6,000-seat Johan Cruyff Stadium, typically used for youth and training purposes.
For most fixtures this year, Barça have relied on the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, a 55,000-seater located on Montjuïc hill, as their temporary home ground.
Staggered Capacity Reopening
Camp Nou will initially operate with a temporary capacity of around 45,401 spectators. The club expects capacity to exceed 105,000 once the top tier and remaining construction phases are completed.
Earlier this month, Barcelona successfully conducted a test event, opening the partially rebuilt stadium to 23,000 fans to observe a training session and evaluate safety protocols.
A Costly but Crucial Project
The reconstruction—one of the most ambitious stadium redevelopment projects in football—is expected to cost €1.5 billion, a heavy burden for the financially troubled club. Barcelona’s leadership sees the new Camp Nou as essential to restoring financial stability, with matchday income projected to be a major revenue driver once full operations resume.
