Camp Nou delay: Girona clash now in doubt as Barcelona plot return for November fixture

The latest update on Camp Nou delays is that the upcoming La Liga match against Girona, set for 18 October 2025, as well as the Champions League clash with Olympiacos on 21 October, will be held at alternate venues that have significantly lower capacities than Camp Nou.

This issue also affects the La Liga game against Elche, scheduled for 2 November. The ongoing renovations at Camp Nou are continuing to hurt FC Barcelona's finances.

So far in the 2025/26 season, the Blaugrana have played three home matches in La Liga and have won all of them. The first two home games, against Valencia and Getafe, were held at Estadi Johan Cruyff, while the third match against Real Sociedad took place at Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys, a venue they have used for the past two seasons.

At the beginning of the 2025/26 campaign, Barcelona requested to play their first three games of the season away from home, a request that was granted. This request also applied to their first Champions League match of the season against Newcastle.

Mid-October return to Camp Nou for Girona match not confirmed

While there have been hopes of a mid-October return to Camp Nou for the match against Girona, nothing has been confirmed yet. The club is reportedly considering delaying the return until 23 November, when they are scheduled to host Athletic Bilbao shortly after an international break.

The board is in favour of waiting until the venue can accommodate at least 45,000 fans, which would also ensure significant revenue.

At least 50,000 fans attended the match against Real Sociedad at Olympic Lluis Companys on 28 September, a venue with a slightly higher capacity than the 45,000 that Barcelona aims to have at Camp Nou upon their return.

Approval for Phase 1A renovations would have allowed Barcelona to host the Girona match at Camp Nou. However, the club deems this option economically insufficient, as it would only allow for 27,000 seats. This limitation would result in financial losses for a football club already plagued by challenges.

Additionally, the city council recently denied Barcelona's request to reopen Camp Nou, citing security and safety concerns. Approval of Phase 1B renovations will enable Spotify Camp Nou to host 45,000 spectators, according to technicians who believe this can be achieved without major issues.

Given the ongoing delays regarding the return to Camp Nou and the unease this causes among fans, the board has chosen to remain silent about the specific date of their return to their “true home.”

The delay in reopening the camp Nou is a financial disaster for Barca:

“FC Barcelona is operating without its stadium…It is losing money by playing at the Estadi Johan Cruyff. We’re talking about 70 or 80 million euros per year.”

— Javier Gómez, CEO of La Liga

— total Barça (@totalBarca) September 19, 2025

FGG Says: Camp Nou delay a huge test for Barca's balance between prudence and progress

Spotify Camp Nou delay reflects both the ambition and the challenges of modern stadium redevelopment. Barcelona's decision to wait for full safety and capacity approval shows prudence, even as it frustrates fans eager for a homecoming. The postponement also carries a clear financial cost, with reduced matchday revenue and commercial opportunities testing the club's fiscal resilience as it builds for the future.