UEFA permitted Barça-Eintracht match to play at the Spotify Camp Nou

The Champions League will return to Camp Nou 1,140 days after the painful 3-0 defeat against Bayern Munich on October 26, 2022. 

According to Mundo Deportivo, UEFA has given FC Barcelona the green light to play their match against Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday, December 9 (9 p.m.) at the Camp Nou, rather than the Estadi Olímpic. Therefore, Barça's exile at Montjuïc is now completely over.

The question remained regarding the European competition, as Article 25.08 of the tournament regulations prohibits a change of stadium during the group stage. However, the highest European governing body has granted Barça's request, which appealed to the spirit of the rule, arguing that they did not want to gain an advantage by choosing a larger stadium different from their usual one, but rather that it was simply a return to their own home after being absent due to unforeseen circumstances, namely the renovation work.

The diplomacy began months ago. The good relationship between Joan Laporta and Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA president, had already resulted in the approval for Barça to start the 2025-26 Champions League campaign away from home, thus gaining two extra weeks to prepare the Estadi Olímpic after the summer concerts, although the initial goal was to start at the Camp Nou. Now, after the First Occupancy License granted on Monday by the City Council within the framework of phase 1B, which allows the Lateral to open this Saturday against Athletic, the Blaugrana temple is now enabled to host Champions League matches.

UEFA required that the televised match have a live audience and a designated area for away fans (5% of the stadium's capacity). After receiving the documentation from Barça, UEFA has given its approval. According to this newspaper, UEFA inspectors will be present on Saturday the 29th for the match against Deportivo Alavés to verify all the on-site operations for what will be the second league match at the Camp Nou.