Barcelona Reach Unusual Agreement with La Liga to Guarantee Hansi Flick’s Men Start Next Season with Three Consecutive Away Matches

Catalan Giants to Begin 2025-26 Season Away from Home as Spotify Camp Nou Undergoes Final Renovations

Barcelona’s upcoming 2025-26 season promises to be an intriguing one, but not just because of the squad or the usual La Liga drama. The Blaugrana have struck a rare and somewhat unusual deal with La Liga officials to start the season away from home, playing at least their first three matches on the road. This isn’t just some tactical quirk—it’s a carefully planned move to allow the club to put the finishing touches on the Spotify Camp Nou’s massive renovation and ensure everything is safe and ready before welcoming fans back in full capacity.

What Happened?

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According to reports from Sport, Barcelona and La Liga have agreed that the Catalan club will open the 2025-26 campaign with a minimum of three consecutive away fixtures. The reason behind this is simple: the Spotify Camp Nou, which has undergone an extensive rebuild over the past two years, needs more time to complete final renovations and safety checks.

This kind of agreement is unusual but not entirely unprecedented. Big clubs with stadium renovations sometimes have to juggle their schedules to avoid home matches during key construction or preparation phases. For Barcelona, though, this deal represents both a logistical necessity and a strategic opportunity.

The Bigger Picture: Why Start Away from Home?

The Spotify Camp Nou renovation has been one of the biggest stadium projects in recent years. The iconic venue, known for hosting some of football’s most memorable moments, is set to return bigger, better, and safer than ever before. However, despite making great strides, the club has decided that it’s essential to take no risks regarding safety and operational readiness.

Starting the season with three away games means the club gets valuable extra time to finalize every detail, from crowd management and emergency procedures to concessions and access points. The last thing Barcelona wants is to rush fans back into a stadium that’s not 100% ready.

The Joan Gamper Trophy: A Test Run with Limited Capacity

In early August, Barcelona plans to host the Joan Gamper Trophy, the traditional preseason friendly, at the Spotify Camp Nou. But this won’t be the usual spectacle. Instead, the match will serve as a “soft launch” of sorts, with the stadium operating at around 25,000 spectators—a fraction of its usual capacity.

This event is critical because it gives the club a chance to evaluate stadium operations under real match conditions. From entry points to concessions and crowd control, everything will be put to the test in a lower-pressure environment. Feedback from this event will inform any final adjustments needed before official competition kicks off.

After Two Seasons Away: The Long-Awaited Return

Since the renovation began, Barcelona has been playing home games at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc. While the temporary move was necessary, the Olympic Stadium was never intended to be a long-term home. Many fans and players alike have been eager to return to the Camp Nou, which is deeply woven into the club’s identity.

That said, the Montjuïc venue is not a viable option for the immediate future. Most of the temporary football infrastructure has been dismantled, and the stadium has been booked for concerts and other events throughout the summer and early fall. This means Barcelona can’t simply revert to Montjuïc if there’s a delay in completing the Camp Nou renovations.

Did You Know? UEFA Approval Could See Champions League Away Start

Another interesting wrinkle is Barcelona’s potential Champions League campaign for the 2025-26 season. If UEFA grants approval, Barcelona could even begin their European matches away from home, pushing their first Champions League fixture at Spotify Camp Nou to late September or October.

This arrangement would align perfectly with the La Liga schedule, allowing more time to ensure the stadium is fully ready for both domestic and European fans. The timing of UEFA’s decision will be crucial here, but early indications suggest the governing body is open to this flexible approach.

What’s Next for Barcelona and Their Fans?

FC Barcelona v RCD Mallorca – LaLiga Santander

Blaugrana supporters will have to be patient, as the club won’t return to the newly renovated Spotify Camp Nou before mid-September at the earliest. The fixture list for the 2025-26 season will reflect this arrangement, with Barcelona kicking off the campaign on the road.

The club’s management has been clear that while the inconvenience of starting away isn’t ideal, it’s a small price to pay for ensuring that when the team does finally play at home again, everything will be perfect—both in terms of safety and fan experience.

A New Era at Spotify Camp Nou

When Barcelona finally welcome fans back in full capacity, it will mark the beginning of a new era. The renovation isn’t just cosmetic; it represents a modernization of the stadium’s infrastructure, improved facilities for supporters, better accessibility, and upgraded technology.

This forward-looking project aims to maintain Camp Nou’s status as one of football’s most iconic venues well into the future. Fans can expect enhanced seating, better sightlines, improved food and beverage options, and state-of-the-art safety features designed to handle large crowds efficiently.

Challenges and Opportunities

Of course, starting the season with three away games won’t be easy for Hansi Flick’s squad. Traveling early on, facing hostile environments without the comfort of home support, and building momentum on the road is never straightforward.

But there’s a silver lining. If the team can handle this initial hurdle well, they will return home with confidence and excitement, ready to take full advantage of the refurbished Camp Nou atmosphere. This unique start could even serve as a bonding experience and a chance to sharpen the squad’s resilience early on.

Final Thoughts

In many ways, Barcelona’s unusual agreement with La Liga highlights the club’s commitment to long-term success and safety. Rather than rushing back into a half-finished stadium, the priority is to deliver a fully polished and secure home for players and fans alike.

For the supporters, the wait might be frustrating, but the promise of returning to a spectacular, state-of-the-art Spotify Camp Nou should make it worthwhile. Meanwhile, Hansi Flick’s men have a challenging and exciting road ahead—starting the season with three tough away fixtures before finally stepping back into one of football’s greatest arenas.

This is a season of transition for Barcelona, blending respect for tradition with a clear focus on the future. And when they finally kick off a home game in mid-September, it won’t just be a match—it will be a celebration of a new chapter in the club’s storied history.