Barcelona has received news that eases its complicated planning. UEFA has announced the schedule for the initial phase of the Champions League, and for Joan Laporta and his team, it represents significant relief.
Two more weeks of margin
Barcelona's first match in the Champions League will be on September 18, a Thursday, against Newcastle away. This gives the club two additional weeks to try to have Camp Nou ready, a small respite amid ongoing construction work.
The second match will be at Camp Nou on October 1, against Paris Saint-Germain. This European home debut will be a true spectacle for the fans. Many had been waiting to see their team return to the top continental competition without delays.
Pending challenges
Despite this good news, the situation remains complex. The return to Camp Nou for La Liga, specifically for the match against Getafe on September 21, is still not guaranteed. This complicates the club's planning and makes meeting UEFA's requirements an additional challenge.
Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA president, demands that stadiums comply with strict safety and logistics standards. For now, Barcelona has a small extra margin, but it's not enough to fully relax.
Montjuïc, the safe alternative
To avoid relying solely on Camp Nou, Barcelona has presented a plan B. The club has signed an agreement with Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (B:SM) to use Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys until the end of February, coinciding with matchday 25 of La Liga.
Montjuïc guarantees that the club has a stadium available if Camp Nou's construction is delayed. This measure ensures the continuity of the Champions League and La Liga, avoiding last-minute problems.
Strategy and celebration
The rental of Montjuïc allows Barça to continue the construction work at Camp Nou without interruptions. This way, the stadium could be ready for the second half of La Liga and the Champions League knockout rounds. This allows work to proceed without interruptions and guarantees that the stadium will be ready for the most important matches.
Joan Laporta hasn't hidden his satisfaction. The additional margin gives the club time to reorganize logistics and coordinate all the details. Fans can also breathe easy: Camp Nou will shine again in the Champions League, and the debut against PSG promises strong emotions.