FC Barcelona activates plan B in case the Camp Nou is not ready for the Valencia match

FC Barcelona, despite having practically secured the reopening of the Spotify Camp Nou for the match against Valencia CF (September 13-14), is still not entirely certain. The Azulgrana team already has the Final Construction Certificate (CFO) of phase 1A.

Therefore, everything depends on the City Council's approval to grant the partial first occupancy permit, which would allow receiving about 27,000 spectators. However, the club seems to have an alternative plan up its sleeve.

• 📌 THE FACT: According to RAC1, the City Council has asked the Barcelona team to solve the problems caused by the rains before granting said permit.

Playing at the Johan Cruyff: the main emergency option

The alternative that is gaining strength, in case the Camp Nou is not available to host the match against Valencia CF, would be to play the match at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. The usual venue for Barça Women and where the men's team already played the 2025 Joan Gamper Trophy against Como 1907 (5-0).

However, this is not a simple solution. The first obstacle is the capacity. LaLiga requires a minimum of 8,000 spectators for First Division stadiums, but the Johan Cruyff only has 6,000 seats, which does not comply with the regulations.

In addition to the capacity issue, the venue does not currently have the VAR system, so it would be necessary to install it express. Added to this is a significant logistical problem: the Barça Women's schedule. If the match against Valencia CF is played on September 14, it would coincide with the women's match against DUX Logroño, corresponding to matchday 3 of Liga F.

Final word: City Council, LaLiga, and tight schedules

For now, Barcelona's top priority remains to host the ché team at the Camp Nou. However, if it does not obtain the partial first occupancy permit, the Johan Cruyff would become the most realistic option. With Montjuïc ruled out, the club's board would have to obtain an exception from LaLiga to enable the stadium with special conditions, considering the emergency situation.

The biggest handicap would be the capacity, especially if, as Mundo Deportivo points out, the Azulgrana team does not contemplate installing additional stands to reach the minimum figure required by the employers' association. The decision will also depend on the report of the emissaries sent by LaLiga to the Johan Cruyff, who have evaluated, among other things, access, security, and public address system to determine if they meet the basic requirements of a First Division match.

In any case, Barcelona would have to submit the official request well in advance. This alternative plan could be activated from Monday, September 1, when a key meeting between the club's board and the City Council is scheduled to determine if the Spotify Camp Nou will finally receive the green light from the council to be able to occupy the Les Corts ground as soon as possible.