UEFA to list Spotify Camp Nou as Barcelona’s home stadium but Plan B remains in place | OneFootball

The UEFA Champions League draw for the new season is set to take place later today, and Barcelona will soon find out the list of opponents they must fight through for a spot in the knockout phase of the competition.

Ahead of the prestigious draw, however, Joan Laporta and Co. were put in a fix as they were asked to name the stadium where Barcelona would host all their league phase matches starting next month.

With the Spotify Camp Nou still not completely fit to host games and the pending nature of the first occupancy permit, the administration found itself in a dilemma over whether to commit to the Spotify Camp Nou or return to Montjuic.

The understanding with UEFA

As relayed earlier this month, UEFA have permitted Barcelona to play their first game of the league phase away from home, thus giving them some valuable time to complete work at the Camp Nou.

Now, as relayed by Mundo Deportivo, it will indeed be the Spotify Camp Nou that Barcelona submit as their home venue for the tournament’s league phase. In the draw later today, that will be considered the venue of the games.

Camp Nou will be listed as Barcelona’s home ground for UCL. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Furthermore, when the Champions League group stage schedule is released on Saturday, Camp Nou will be listed as Barcelona’s home stadium.

Concurrently, however, UEFA understands the tight deadlines the Catalans face to get their home ground ready, and is thus willing to offer the club leeway to change to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, in case the stadium is not ready for Matchday 2.

Due to the good diplomacy on the club’s part, UEFA has shown willingness to understand their request of wanting to play the first match away and gaining time to get both stadiums ready for the subsequent rounds.

Once the team sets foot in one of the stadiums for a home clash, however, they must complete the entire league phase in the same venue and Joan Laporta and Co. will thus work hard to ensure matchday 2 can take place at the Camp Nou.

Yesterday, the UEFA Champions League anthem was heard being tested at the venue, and it is clear that it is their priority to bring the competition back to the grand stadium. It will all boil down to the speed of work and the securing of permits now.