FC Barcelona faces yet another setback in its long-awaited return to the renovated Camp Nou. According to Spanish outlet COPE, LaLiga rejected the Catalan club’s request to play the fourth-round fixture against Valencia at Mestalla and hold the return leg in Catalonia. With the refusal, Barça is left without a clear alternative and may be forced to host the match at home with empty stands.

The schedule complicates Camp Nou’s reopening

The club had proudly announced that its stadium would be ready by mid-September, after reaching an agreement with LaLiga to play its first three league matches away from home. However, the timeline appears to have fallen short. With three weeks remaining until the deadline, Barcelona still lacks all the necessary safety approvals to open the Camp Nou to fans.

The idea of moving the clash against Valencia to Mestalla was rejected by LaLiga, leaving Barça’s board under pressure. The long-awaited return to Les Corts now looks complicated, with tension rising as matchday four approaches.

Without the Olímpic and Montilivi as a possible lifeline

Alternative venues are not helping either. The Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, home to the team for the past two seasons, is unavailable as it will host a Post Malone concert on September 12, just one day before the game. The Johan Cruyff Stadium, with only 6,000 seats, does not meet LaLiga’s minimum requirements.

Catalan media has floated the option of relocating the match to Montilivi, home of Girona, which would be free that weekend while Míchel’s side plays away at Celta de Vigo. Still, the worst-case scenario remains on the table: playing behind closed doors, something the club has tried hard to avoid.

A reopening that refuses to arrive

The full renovation of Camp Nou is scheduled for the summer of 2026, but for now, the stadium is not ready to welcome fans. Missing safety certifications and ongoing construction delays have created a major issue, calling into question the club’s planning.

Barcelona, the reigning Spanish champion, now finds itself in a race against time with very few options. Supporters had been eagerly awaiting the return to Camp Nou, but the clash with Valencia could turn into a bitter and silent debut if no last-minute solution is found.