Uncertainty is growing among FC Barcelona fans as the team’s return to their home stadium, Spotify Camp Nou, continues to be delayed. The repeated postponements have forced the Catalan club to play their first home match of the season last night at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium.

The Nou Camp has served as Barcelona's home ground since it opened in 1957. Renovation work began in June 2023, at a cost of around 1.3bn euros, with the goal of modernising the stadium and expanding its capacity to 105,000 - making it one of the largest grounds in the world. But the club has not provided a clear timeline for when they will be able to return to Camp Nou.

On Thursday, club president Joan Laporta stated that “the stadium is almost finished and ready for hosting games.” An official statement was published regarding this as he added, “We will be back home soon,” but did not give a specific date, saying it depends on receiving the necessary permits from the authorities. The president assured fans that the club is working hard to make the return a reality as soon as possible.

However, a report from El Chiringuito suggests that Barcelona will be back at Spotify Camp Nou in two weeks for their La Liga match against Real Sociedad. This timeline means Barcelona would not be able to return in time for next Sunday's match against Getafe, which, like the recent Valencia game, will be played at the Johan Cruyff.

This small venue, typically home to the club's women’s and youth teams, hosted a thrilling match as Barcelona thrashed Valencia 6-0. Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski all scored a brace each, ensuring a dominant performance despite the unusual surroundings. The victory was a welcome one, as the team had previously drawn 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano.

The Real Sociedad match is scheduled for September 28, which would allow them to host their first Champions League home match against PSG on October 1 at Camp Nou.

It is now expected that Hansi Flick’s team will finally be able to make their long-awaited homecoming, nearly 28 months after the last game was played at the iconic arena. Barcelona has yet to secure the required approval to host matches at Spotify Camp Nou again, but the club reportedly hopes to receive it within the next 7-10 days. A successful return would be a massive boost for the team both on and off the field.