Barcelona Faces Stadium Dilemma for Champions League Matches

Barcelona FC is currently facing a significant challenge regarding their home venue for upcoming Champions League knockout matches. The club finds itself without a suitable stadium due to ongoing renovations at Camp Nou and scheduling conflicts at their temporary home, Montjuïc Olympic Stadium.

The situation arises from UEFA regulations requiring teams to play all knockout stage matches at the same venue. Barcelona cannot use Montjuïc for the entire duration due to prior commitments by the Barcelona City Council. Additionally, the delayed renovations at Camp Nou mean the iconic stadium won’t be ready in time for the early knockout rounds.

Barcelona has until February 21st to inform UEFA of their chosen venue for the remainder of the European competition. This deadline is set a few days before the start of the Champions League round of 16.

The club is now exploring alternative options, as reported by MARCA. Potential venues being considered include Cornellá (home of local rivals Espanyol), Mestalla in Valencia, and even the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid. While Cornellá is the closest option, the rivalry between Barcelona and Espanyol may complicate this choice.

This unexpected predicament puts Barcelona in a difficult position, potentially forcing them to look for solutions outside of Catalonia. The coming months will be crucial as the club works to resolve this major logistical challenge before their Champions League campaign continues.