Barcelona to Host Valencia at 6,000-Seat Johan Cruyff Stadium After La Liga Grants Approval
BARCELONA, Spain – Barcelona will host their upcoming La Liga fixture against Valencia at the 6,000-seat Johan Cruyff Stadium after receiving special dispensation from the league, a source familiar with the decision confirmed to EFE on Friday.
The move comes as a result of a scheduling conflict at the Olympic Lluís Companys Stadium, the club’s temporary home, which is unavailable due to a Post Malone concert on September 12. The club’s primary home, the Spotify Camp Nou, remains under renovation and has not yet been authorized to host matches, even with its reduced provisional capacity of 27,000.
La Liga officials conducted an initial inspection of the Johan Cruyff Stadium – home of Barcelona’s women’s and B teams – on August 27 and have granted approval despite its capacity falling below the league’s minimum requirement of 8,000 spectators. The exception was made due to force majeure.
Barcelona must now undertake several infrastructure upgrades to bring the venue to broadcasting standards, including the installation of VAR cameras and a high-capacity fibre optic connection. A final inspection will be conducted once the work is completed.
The women’s team is scheduled to play at the same venue on Friday, September 13, more than 48 hours before the men’s match, alleviating concerns over pitch condition. The decision provides a temporary solution for the club as they continue to seek full operational return to the Camp Nou.