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**Headline: Barcelona Likely to Play Champions League Opener Away Due to Camp Nou Delays**

Barcelona is facing the prospect of playing their first Champions League league phase match of the 2025-26 season away from home due to ongoing renovations at Camp Nou. UEFA, the governing body of European football, is considering an exception to their standard fixture rules given the “exceptional circumstances” surrounding the stadium’s refurbishment, which began in June 2023.

Initially confident of a partial return to Camp Nou in time for the current season, the club has faced repeated delays. The planned return for a La Liga match against Valencia on September 14th is now in doubt. Compounding the issue, their temporary home, the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, is unavailable for both the Valencia match and the opening Champions League league phase fixtures (Sept 16-18) due to a scheduled concert.

While other options are being explored for the Valencia game, none seem ideal. Playing behind closed doors at Camp Nou requires permits not yet requested, and their training ground stadium doesn’t meet La Liga standards. A return to Montjuic is possible for later fixtures, including the second round of Champions League league phase matches, but the club is in communication with UEFA to potentially play their opening game away from home.

A UEFA inspection would be necessary if Barcelona intends to play at the partially renovated Camp Nou. UEFA regulations typically require consistency in stadium use throughout the competition, but room for flexibility does exist. The revamped Camp Nou, with a planned capacity of 105,000, is expected to initially reopen with a significantly reduced capacity of around 27,000, and the full project’s completion remains years away.

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