Champions League returns to Spotify Camp Nou: 1st UEFA visit

The board of directors of FC Barcelona received the first visit from UEFA inspectors to Spotify Camp Nou, in order to enable the 'culé' temple for the dispute of European competitions in the next season. 

While the club processes the necessary permits to reopen the Estadi on August 10 (for the dispute of the Joan Gamper Trophy), UEFA is doing its part so that Barça can return to Les Corts in the 25/26 Champions League, after two seasons at the Lluís Companys in Montjuïc where the team reached the quarter-finals (23/24) and the semi-finals (24/25).

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Barça requests permits to play the Gamper at Camp Nou

According to 'Mundo Deportivo', Barça will receive the first report from the highest body of European football next week. The inspectors will return again in mid-August, probably to corroborate the progress of the works in the stands, accesses and the press area.

In principle, the 'azulgrana' team plans to have a capacity of 65,000 spectators next season, waiting to receive all the corresponding permits for the opening of the work. Barça played its last Champions League match at Camp Nou on October 26, 2022 against Bayern Munich (0-3 defeat). 

The possible dates on which Barça will debut as local in the Champions League

In principle, the 'azulgrana' team could debut in the Champions League group stage on September 16, 17 or 18 as local, considering that in 24/25 the 'culés' began their journey in the tournament visiting Monaco. According to the new format, each team must play eight matches against eight different rivals, with four duels at home and four away.

If the calendar determines that Barça debuts as a visitor, the return of the Champions League to Les Corts will take place on September 30 or October 1, days on which the second matchday of the league phase must be played.

The first date is the only one that includes matches on Thursday, while the eighth and last matchday of the league includes 36 matches simultaneously, all scheduled for the last Wednesday of January.

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This is how the calendar of the next UEFA Champions League is distributed

According to the official UEFA calendar, the first preliminary round of the 25/26 Champions League will be played between July 8 and 16. The second, from July 22 to 30 and the third between August 5 and 12. The 'play-off' prior to the league phase will be played from August 19 to 27, while the initial all against all starts on September 16 and concludes on January 28, 2026.

The round of 16 play-offs must be played from February 17 to 25, while the round of 16 matches are scheduled from March 10 to 18. In April, from 7 to 15, the quarter-finals will be played, while the 'semis' will be defined from April 28 to May 6.

The final of the tournament will be played on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the Puskás Arena in Budapest, which in principle would host the 2021 final, but due to the health restrictions of the covid-19 pandemic the match was played in Porto.