Barcelona’s Upcoming LaLiga Match Against Valencia
Barcelona announced that their upcoming LaLiga match against Valencia will be hosted at the Estadi Johan Cruyff instead of the anticipated Spotify Camp Nou. This game, scheduled for Sunday, marks the club’s first home league match of the season, but the hoped-for return to their iconic stadium has been postponed yet again due to delays in obtaining essential permits for its renovation, which has been ongoing since 2023.
Reasons for Venue Change
The club had initially planned to host the Valencia match at Camp Nou, but since that venue remains unavailable, they have opted for the Johan Cruyff stadium, which has a capacity of only 6,000. The alternative is necessary as the Olympic Stadium, where Barcelona has played the last two seasons, is occupied this week due to a scheduled concert.
“The match against Valencia will not yet be able to take place at Spotify Camp Nou. The club is working intensively to obtain the necessary permits for the stadium’s opening in the coming weeks.”
The team is slated to play against Getafe at home the following week, complicating their logistics further as they continue to push for a timely return.
About Estadi Johan Cruyff
The Estadi Johan Cruyff, situated near their training facilities, is home to both the women’s team and the men’s reserve squad. Additionally, it is set to host another Liga F match between Barça Femení and Logroño shortly before the Valencia fixture.
Renovation Plans for Camp Nou
Barcelona commenced their Camp Nou renovation project to modernize the facility and expand its seating capacity, aiming for a reopening in November 2024 for a reduced crowd of around 50,000 at first. The delay in returning to Camp Nou is also significant as the club had initially targeted August 10 this year, aligning with their Joan Gamper Trophy match against Como, which similarly had to be relocated to the Johan Cruyff venue.
Notably, LaLiga allowed Barca to play their first three league games away from home to allow for the completion of renovations, after they concluded the previous season at the Olympic Stadium with a mix of results, including a recent draw against Rayo Vallecano.
