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Barcelona hosts Valencia at Johan Cruyff as Camp Nou reopening stalls
Barcelona fans will gather at the intimate Estadi Johan Cruyff this Sunday, as delays in Camp Nou's reopening force the Catalan club to improvise. The La Liga clash with Valencia will kick off at 20:00 Morocco time, with the 6,000-seat stadium in Sant Joan Despí stepping in as a temporary venue.
Camp Nou remains closed after inspection setback
Barcelona had hoped to welcome fans back to Camp Nou with a reduced capacity of 27,000 seats. However, the city council withheld the First Occupancy certificate following last-minute inspections, citing incomplete readiness. The club quickly abandoned plans to shift the match to Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, as the venue had hosted a Post Malone concert just two days earlier.
Tight preparations at Estadi Johan Cruyff
Preparations for Sunday’s game at Estadi Johan Cruyff have been described as sluggish. According to Mundo Deportivo, only minimal activity has been observed around the premises, with a handful of workers installing VAR equipment, testing lighting systems, and conducting routine maintenance. The stadium will also host Barcelona Women’s opening match against DUX Logroño on Friday, leaving staff with a tight turnaround to ensure readiness for Sunday.
La Liga officials have demanded upgrades, including proper VAR camera placements and a fibre optic network to ensure broadcast reliability. Club staff are reportedly working tirelessly to meet these requirements before the match.
Reduced capacity and financial challenges
The move to Johan Cruyff means a significant reduction in attendance, as the stadium holds fewer than 6,000 fans, a fraction of Camp Nou’s usual capacity. To mitigate financial losses, the club plans to create a VIP area for the match.
Future matches in limbo
Barcelona’s exile from Camp Nou is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. After Valencia, the next two home games against Getafe and Real Sociedad are likely to be held at the Olímpic Lluís Companys in Montjuïc. Additionally, the Champions League showdown with PSG on October 1 may also take place there.
While the club is taking a “game-by-game” approach, it is clear that Camp Nou will not reopen to fans this month. The delay underscores the challenges Barcelona faces in adapting to temporary venues during the renovation of their iconic stadium.