Fútbol Club Barcelona has issued an official statement informing that the match of the ninth round of LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26, against Girona, will finally be played at the Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys and not at the Spotify Camp Nou. The match will take place on Saturday, October 18 at 4:15 p.m.

Just as happened with the Champions League match against Olympiacos, the Catalan Club reiterates that there are still administrative procedures pending that will allow the partial reopening of the Spotify Camp Nou, which is currently undergoing remodeling. In the meantime, Montjuïc will continue to host Hansi Flick's team's commitments in both La Liga and the Champions League.

Barça confirms its intention to return to Spotify Camp Nou with 45,000 spectators

Likewise, the Barça statement ratifies the board's intention to wait for the conclusion of phase 1B for the reopening of the Estadi. In this way, the capacity will not be 27,000 spectators, but 45,000, with the enabling of the Lateral stand.

This step is key for UEFA to approve the reopening of the Barça stadium for Champions League matches. Phase 1A only enables the Tribune and the South Goal stand, but these areas do not allow for the segregation of visiting fans during European competition matches.

In this regard, the statement shared by the Club explains:

"Although the first occupancy license for phase 1A (Tribune and Goal) is expected to be received soon - which would allow an occupancy of up to 27,000 attendees - FC Barcelona will work with the aim of returning to the Spotify Camp Nou once the corresponding license for phase 1B (Tribune, Goal and Lateral) is obtained, which will expand the capacity to 45,000 spectators"

The reasons for the new delay in returning to Spotify Camp Nou 

In that regard, Barcelona points out three main reasons that justify the delay in obtaining the first occupancy license from the City Council. The Club expected to reopen the Spotify Camp Nou in August (phase 1A), but two months have passed since the Joan Gamper Trophy was played without yet obtaining the green light from the authorities.

In this regard, the directive points out that "the delay in obtaining license 1A has placed its approval very close in time to that of 1B," this due to the progress in the works of the Lateral.

Similarly, compared to the 27,000 spectators that could enter for League matches with only the Tribune and South Goal stands enabled, the capacity of Montjuïc (50,000) "allows for generating higher revenues and thus compensate for those obtained in the matches played previously at the Estadi Johan Cruyff."

Furthermore, the new delay in the stadium's reopening gives the construction company Limak "more days to carry out all the necessary operational tests, if needed."

More details for Barça members and season ticket holders

Regarding the Barça-Girona match of LaLiga matchday 9, the Club also clarifies that, starting with that match, "the management of capacity will be carried out through a pass system that will be implemented and maintained until the end of the season."

In the coming days, Barça will explain all the details of the pass model that will govern the remainder of the 25/26 season, both in Montjuïc and at the Spotify Camp Nou. The statement concludes with thanks to all the culés for their support during the remodeling of the Estadi, which began in the summer of 2022 and may extend until 2027.

"FC Barcelona thanks its members and fans for their understanding and support in a process as complex and exciting as the return to the new Spotify Camp Nou"