Barcelona confirm another Camp Nou delay as Getafe game to be played in 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium with Champions League deadline approaching

Barcelona will host Getafe at the Johan Cruyff Stadium as they have not been granted the First Occupancy License required to reopen the Camp Nou on time for the match. With only five days left until kick-off, hopes of a late approval have vanished. The club had briefly considered returning to Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, where they played all home games last season, but the pitch conditions there ruled it out completely. It means, just like against Valencia, the Blaugrana will once again play in front of just 6,000 spectators instead of the tens of thousands who would normally pack Camp Nou.

"FC Barcelona announces that the match corresponding to matchday 5 of LaLiga, which has to take place on Sunday, September 21, at 21:00, against Getafe, will not be able to take place at the Spotify Camp Nou," a statement read.

"The Club continues to work intensively to obtain the necessary administrative permits for the opening of the Spotify Camp Nou in the coming days. For this reason, the match will finally be held at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.

"FC Barcelona thanks its members and fans for their understanding and support in such a complex and exciting process as the return to the new Spotify Camp Nou. The Club will provide further details soon regarding the organization of the match and ticketing procedures."

While missing one more La Liga home game may not be a catastrophe, Barcelona’s real challenge is the looming Champions League clash with PSG on October 1. UEFA require the stadium to host at least one domestic fixture beforehand, allowing inspectors to evaluate its condition during competitive use. Barca are hopeful the September 28 league fixture against Real Sociedad will provide that opportunity, but the clock is ticking and any further delays could push them into a logistical crisis.

Even if Camp Nou gets the green light, Barcelona must comply with UEFA’s strict rules. For the Real Sociedad match, Marca reports only the main grandstand was scheduled to be open, accommodating around 27,000 fans. But UEFA regulations require both sides of the stadium to be operational, raising doubts about whether the Catalan giants can meet capacity demands in time for Europe’s biggest stage. If UEFA reject the proposal, the club may be forced to split their European and domestic fixtures across two stadiums, something that goes against current rules but could be argued under exceptional circumstances.

If no compromise is reached, Barcelona’s fallback plan is to stage Champions League games at Montjuic, where they have already asked the City Council to block dates until February. However, that would create another dilemma: whether to commit fully to Montjuic or split fixtures between Camp Nou and their temporary home. 

Meanwhile, Hansi Flick’s men cannot afford distractions, with a high-profile trip to Newcastle United in the Champions League this week before returning to La Liga duty against Getafe.