Barça want UCL opener away from Camp Nou

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has requested UEFA permission for the club to play their first Champions League group stage match away from home due to the ongoing unavailability of the Spotify Camp Nou. The draw is scheduled for August 28th, with the first matches taking place September 16-18. Laporta expressed hope UEFA would grant the request, citing their improving relationship.

The Camp Nou remains under renovation, forcing Barcelona to play at the Olympic Stadium for the past two seasons. The planned return date, initially November 2024, has been repeatedly delayed. A recent attempt to host the Joan Gamper Trophy on August 10th at the Camp Nou failed due to licensing problems, moving it to the Estadi Johan Cruyff instead. Laporta cannot provide an exact return date but stressed the team must return to the Camp Nou this coming season to meet financial commitments tied to their financing contract with Goldman Sachs. Not returning this season would require restarting budgets and plans.

Laporta also reiterated his desire to have Lionel Messi, the club's all-time leading scorer, present for the official opening of the revamped Camp Nou for a tribute. While he stated the idea has been discussed with Messi's family, Laporta confirmed he hasn't spoken directly to Messi or his entourage recently about it. He hopes Messi will agree, calling it "very nice." Messi left Barcelona in August 2021 due to the club's financial crisis.

Regarding the league schedule, Barcelona will play their first three LaLiga matches (against Mallorca, Levante, and Rayo Vallecano) away from home. Their first home league game is scheduled for September 14th against Valencia.