Barcelona face stadium chaos and must leave current ground for Champions League

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Barcelona could be forced to play home matches at a rivals’ stadium in 2025.

The Spanish giants have to leave their current temporary home in the new year.

Barca have been playing at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys since the start of last season.

Their move was enforced by the ongoing redevelopment of the Camp Nou.

However, their planned return this month has been delayed until next season with the work still taking place.

Events planned by the city council at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys mean Barca cannot continuing playing Champions League matches there either, though.

From the end of the league phase, the club will be forced to move to a new stadium, Marca report.

It is due to UEFA requiring clubs to play all of their home knockout matches at the same stadium.

The report adds that Barca have considered heading to city rivals Espanyol’s Estadi Cornella-El Prat.

With a capacity of 40,000, the venue meets UEFA standards but there is some opposition due to the two clubs’ rivalry.

Meanwhile, another option is to play in either Madrid or Valencia at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium or the Mestalla.

The date for a decision by the club is dependant on Barca’s final position in the league phase.

Finishing in outside the top eight and facing a play-off tie would mean they must decide by the time the draw takes place on January 31.

However, Barca would have until February 21 if they finish in the top eight to advance directly to the last 16.

Hansi Flick’s side are currently second after six matches, with a trip to Benfica and a home clash with Atalanta to come next month.

As for the work on the Camp Nou, it remains scheduled for completion in the summer of 2026.

That date has not changed despite delays preventing Barca’s return at a reduced capacity this month as initially scheduled.