BARCELONA are facing a race against time to find a venue to ‘host’ their opening home game of the season.
The Catalan club are pressing ahead with plans to re-open the Spotify Nou Camp for their LaLiga game against Valencia on September 14.
A decision is required soon for the Champions League group-stages, with the draw taking place this Thursday.
But according to Mundo Deportivo, the Spanish giants have still not received a Final Construction Certificate.
Barcelona must confirm to Uefa which stadium they will use until at least mid-February.
Last year’s league champions have played their last two seasons in the Olympic Stadium – but this has been ruled out with Post Malone hosting a concert that same weekend.
The Blaugrana have booked the stadium from September 20, but for the Valencia game, their back-up plan is to play at their reserve stadium, Estadi Johan Cruyff.
However, LaLiga inspectors have been spotted leaving the stadium, which hosts Barcelona Femení, Barcelona B and Juvenil A (U19 A team).
The most pressing issue is capacity, with LaLiga regulations expecting a minimum of 8,000 – Estadi Johan Cruyff has 6,000.
But this is unlikely to be enforced, having permitted Eibar’s 7,000 seater ‘Ipurua’ in the league for seven years.
Barça have two options, request exceptional dispensation from LaLiga, or install temporary stands.
Estadi Johan Cruyff doesn’t have the capacity currently to house VAR, which means Barcelona will need to install the technology before the game.
LaLiga will need to be informed of the club’s intentions early next week, with them having already rejected the first approach to swap the fixture order and play at Valencia’s ‘Mestalla Stadium’ instead.
Barcelona were also informed that no club can start the season with more than three consecutive away games.
They have already played away at Mallorca, Levante and visit Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
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