Barcelona Reveals Stadium Choice for Crucial La Liga Clash Against Getafe
Barcelona have announced they will return to the Estadi Johan Cruyff for Sunday's La Liga encounter against Getafe, having once more been unable to obtain the required permits to move back to Camp Nou.
The Catalan club was compelled to use the compact stadium for their opening home fixture of the new La Liga season versus Valencia last weekend. Under 6,000 supporters were permitted entry to witness Hansi Flick's team cruise to a commanding 6–0 triumph at what was intended as a provisional home. Nevertheless, Barcelona are returning to the Cruyff venue.
"The Club remains working diligently to secure the required administrative approvals for the reopening of the Spotify Camp Nou in the upcoming days," Barcelona announced in an official communication on Tuesday. "Therefore, the fixture will ultimately take place at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.
"FC Barcelona expresses gratitude to its members and supporters for their patience and backing during such a challenging and thrilling phase as the homecoming to the new Spotify Camp Nou. The Club will share additional information shortly concerning the match arrangements and ticket distribution processes."
Barcelona established the unfortunate milestone of recording the smallest La Liga crowd in the 21st century with merely 5,862 attending on Sunday. The Spanish premier division requires stadiums of minimum 8,000 capacity but Flick's squad managed to secure a solution by requesting an exemption due to "structural considerations."
The Catalans could accommodate nearly 10 times the Cruyff's capacity if they relocated to the Olímpic Lluís Companys stadium, which served as the club's reluctant base for the past two seasons during Camp Nou's renovation. Barcelona were prevented from traveling to Montjuïc last weekend because of a scheduling conflict with Post Malone's performance. While there's no musical event this Sunday, the presumption is that the Cruyff was selected to circumvent the financial and bureaucratic requirements of leasing the Olympic venue.
Significant uncertainty remains regarding when Barcelona will be able to return to Camp Nou. Recent reports suggest the Real Sociedad match on Sept. 28 as a possibility, which would enable them to host their Champions League fixture against Paris Saint-Germain on Oct. 1 at their traditional ground.
Should Barcelona fail to prepare Camp Nou in time for PSG's arrival, they will be unable to host any other European matches at the stadium this season, as UEFA rules require clubs to conduct every league phase match at the identical location.