Joan Laporta hints Barcelona could start next season with a run of away games | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have a lot of things to look forward to for the upcoming season. Hansi Flick’s men have played a brilliant season, and fans will be curious to see the next step in the evolution of the German coach’s project.

However, the biggest excitement will have to be the potential return to the new, renovated Spotify Camp Nou. For the past couple of seasons, Barcelona have not been at their home, and it would be an exhilarating feeling for them to return to a stadium with so many memories.

The initial plan was for the Nou Camp to be partially ready midway through the current campaign, but the construction was delayed. The hope now is that the club will be able to return to their home stadium next year at least.

Laporta hints at a run of away games to start the season for Barcelona. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Joan Laporta was asked about the same in an interview with TV3, and as quoted by Mundo Deportivo, he confirmed the plan to test the new stadium during the Joan Gamper game, which is usually the curtain raiser to the new season for Barcelona. He said:

“If there are no unforeseen issues, this coming season we’ll be at the new Spotify Camp Nou. If all goes well, we’ll do a test run during the Gamper. We’re working with that hypothesis. A major test is necessary before any official match.”

The president, Joan Laporta, however, revealed that the return will have to be gradual, hinting that Barcelona might be beginning the 2025/26 season with a run of away games. He said:

“The return will be gradual. Members will be able to see how the construction progresses as the match days go by. There’s no plan to return to Montjuïc, because we’ll start the season away from home, and the idea is to be at Camp Nou by late September or early October.”

Estimating based on the current season, Barcelona might have played approximately 10 games across all competitions until early October, and this could be a scenario where all these games are scheduled as away games for Hansi Flick’s men.

How the Camp Nou looked prior to the renovation! (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Travelling so much early on in the season needs a lot of mental fortitude, but the incentive of playing the games at Camp Nou for the rest of the season could be a driving factor that allows the players to perform despite the circumstances.

While the journey back to Camp Nou may start with a string of away fixtures, the hope is that the reward will be worth the wait. A successful test run during the Joan Gamper Trophy could mark the first glimpse of Barcelona’s iconic stadium reborn.

For fans across the globe, the sight of their team stepping back onto that hallowed turf would be more than just nostalgic; it would signal the beginning of a bold new era. Here’s hoping that day comes sooner rather than later.