Barcelona make Camp Nou return decision after construction delays | OneFootball

Barcelona have requested an extension to their use of the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium amid concerns over delays in the construction work at Camp Nou.

The refurbishment of Barcelona's famous home has been hit with significant delays. Plans to return before the end of 2024 were pushed back until February 2025, but it was recently revealed that further setbacks left them unlikely to be able to return until late March at the very earliest.

The dilemma for Barcelona is that UEFA rules state clubs must play all their home games at the same stadium in the Champions League knockout stages. Camp Nou is unlikely to be ready for the start of the round of 16 in early March, but their temporary home was also booked out for Champions League dates later in the competition as Barcelona had not expected to be there this long.

However, those other plans have now fallen through and Barcelona have now formally requested use of the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium until the end of the season as a fall-back if Camp Nou is not ready in time.

"FC Barcelona will ask BSM to extend the occupancy and operation of the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys until 20 May, although the club's objective of wanting to play matches this season at the Spotify Camp Nou remains," a club statement read. "The Club has learned that BSM's reservation of the facility from May for a musical event will most likely not be made effective.

"Therefore, the non-confirmation of an event that the Olympic Ring had reserved opens the possibility that FC Barcelona can play until the last La Liga match at the Olympic Stadium.

"The Club wishes to emphasise that the main objective is to play matches at the end of the season at the Spotify Camp Nou, and efforts will therefore be intensified to achieve this objective."

There had initially been speculation that Barcelona's hosting of Real Madrid for the second Clasico of the season could be moved to Wembley, due to Rolling Stones concerts apparently being pencilled in for 10 May and 15 May at the Olympic Stadium - the former a day before the fixture is due to take place.