- Barcelona awaiting return to famous Camp Nou stadium
- Delays in renovations could push return back to next season
- Champions League games could create significant headache
Barcelona fear they will not be able to return to Camp Nou at all this season after renovation works hit a major delay.
It was initially hoped that Barcelona would be able to play their final game of the calendar year, Saturday's visit from Atletico Madrid, back at their famous home, but return plans were pushed back to February when it became clear work would not be completed in time.
However, that time frame is now rated as "impossible" by Marca, who state that delays to construction of key facilities, including emergency exits, as well as the laying of the grass mean the stadium may not even be close to being functional until late March.
While Barcelona could choose to end the La Liga season at Camp Nou if all the work is completed in time, they will not be able to do so in the Champions League because of UEFA rules stating a club's games beyond the league phase must all be played at the same home stadium.
The play-off round for the Champions League is scheduled for mid-February and, should Barcelona feature in this round, Camp Nou would not be ready. Even if they qualify directly for the knockout stages, which are due to begin in early March, it is highly unlikely Camp Nou will be ready to host such a fixture.
The dilemma gets worse for Barcelona as their temporary home, the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, is currently unavailable for Champions League games in the later stages of the competition because of pre-existing agreements with the City Council. With UEFA demanding all home games be played at the same stadium, Barcelona may have to find another stadium to host their European games.
Club officials are speaking with the local authorities to try and extend their agreement but they are also searching for potential solutions elsewhere. Early suggestions have been to try and use Valencia's Mestalla Stadium or Atletico Madrid's Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
