Camp Nou return is off! Barcelona confirm Champions League clash against PSG will not be played at iconic stadium in brutal blow for La Liga club

Barcelona have announced that their October 1 showdown with PSG in the Champions League will not take place at the redeveloped Camp Nou. Instead, the game will be staged at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, with a capacity of 55,000. The news comes just one day after the Blaugrana opened their European campaign with a 2-1 win over Newcastle, but they are still waiting on administrative permits to open their main stadium despite earlier optimism about a September return.

"FC Barcelona announces that the second match of the Champions League group stage, scheduled for Wednesday 1 October at 9 p.m. against Paris Saint-Germain, will be played at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.," the club said in an official statement.

"The Club continues to work intensively to obtain the necessary administrative permits for the opening of Spotify Camp Nou in the near future. FC Barcelona thanks its members and fans for their understanding and support during such a complex and exciting process as the return to the new Spotify Camp Nou."

The Catalan giants' homecoming has already been pushed back several times. Their September league games against Valencia and Getafe were moved to the Estadi Johan Cruyff due to missed deadlines, though UEFA restrictions meant it could not host European matches. While construction company Limak has nearly completed the stadium works, the club remain without the official completion certificate or the required licence from the City Council.

The news comes as a blow to Barcelona as they will now have to play all of their home Champions League matches at the Montjuic Stadium until the end of the League phase. With over 27,000 fans expected to miss out compared to a Camp Nou crowd, the relocation represents both a financial and sporting setback. Still, the club remain hopeful of being able to play La Liga games in their spiritual home by the end of September.

Barca return to La Liga action this weekend against Getafe, while work continues behind the scenes to finalise Camp Nou’s reopening.