Camp Nou update: Barcelona target September return as hosting Gamper Trophy match almost ruled out | OneFootball

Barcelona fans hoping to return to the Spotify Camp Nou for the Joan Gamper Trophy will have to wait a little longer.

This is because, according to TV3, the club’s plans to reopen the stadium for the traditional curtain-raiser are on hold because the Barcelona City Council has not granted the “initial occupancy” permit, which is a key requirement before hosting any match.

The reason? The first and second tiers of the new Camp Nou are not fully completed yet. The basement work and the stadium’s access points also need to be finalised before the green light can be given.

Without these elements in place, the authorities cannot approve the stadium’s use, even partially.

Initially, the club was aiming to reopen the stadium on August 10 for the Gamper match against Como. However, that deadline now looks impossible.

The new target date is September 14 for the La Liga match against Valencia, but even that isn’t guaranteed.

Contingency in place

Spotify Camp Nou will not be ready for the Joan Gamper Trophy match. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Barcelona face another complication due to UEFA regulations. For the Champions League, the designated stadium for home games must remain consistent throughout the competition.

This could present a logistical headache if the Camp Nou is not fully ready by the time European fixtures begin.

With Montjuic also out of question, the most realistic solution for now is to shift the Joan Gamper Trophy to the Johan Cruyff Stadium.

The problem is that the venue has a capacity of just 6,000 seats, a stark contrast to the atmosphere of the traditional Camp Nou spectacle.

Barcelona had high hopes of unveiling their new-look stadium this August, but construction delays have forced the club to reconsider.

Despite their best efforts to accelerate the works, the club may have no choice but to settle for a much smaller event this year, making the Gamper Trophy feel very different from what fans are used to.