The return of FC Barcelona to the Spotify Camp Nou remains up in the air, with doubts growing ahead of the fourth round of LaLiga EA Sports, where the Catalans are scheduled to host Valencia on September 14. While the club awaits official permits to reopen the stadium with a provisional capacity of 27,000 spectators, LaLiga has already taken action by sending inspectors to review the Johan Cruyff Stadium as a possible alternative.

A venue with limitations

The Johan Cruyff Stadium, located next to the Joan Gamper training complex, is the usual home for Barça Atlètic and the women’s team. However, its 6,000-seat capacity falls well short of LaLiga’s minimum requirements, posing a major obstacle for hosting a top-flight fixture.

In addition to its limited size, the stadium lacks the technology required for VAR, meaning a complete system would need to be installed if the Barcelona-Valencia match were to be played there. A further scheduling conflict complicates matters, as the women’s team is set to play DUX Logroño that same weekend at the venue, though the date and time have not yet been confirmed.

Camp Nou remains the priority; Montjuïc the backup plan

Barcelona’s top priority is still returning to the Camp Nou, but the club has yet to receive approval for partial reopening. At the same time, an agreement with the Barcelona City Council allows the use of the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys until February 2026 if delays at Les Corts persist.

However, Montjuïc will also be unavailable for the Liga home opener due to a Post Malone concert scheduled for September 12, which will leave the pitch unplayable just two days before the Valencia clash.

A scheduling puzzle for Barcelona

In this context, the Johan Cruyff Stadium has emerged as a forced “Plan B,” though both LaLiga and the club are well aware of its shortcomings for staging a top-tier match. A final decision must be made in the coming days to ensure proper organization of the fixture.

Meanwhile, Barça fans continue to wait for confirmation on the stadium where Hansi Flick’s side will make their long-awaited home debut in this league campaign.