Barcelona push for Camp Nou return with 45 000 fans against Girona

The Catalan giants have been waiting for the First Occupancy Licence to allow Hansi Flick's team to return. A plan to stage this weekend's match against Real Sociedad at the ground, with a reduced capacity of 27,000 fans, was rejected by Barcelona City Council earlier this week.

The council said further improvements were needed regarding evacuation procedures and overall safety before approval could be granted. The decision frustrated the club, who had already organised a media visit to the ground on the same day.

Optimism remains that the situation can be resolved before the Girona fixture. According to reports in Spain, the completion of phase 1B, which includes the lateral stand, would lift the stadium's capacity to 45,000 spectators. The inspection, carried out by Dekra on behalf of the City Council, is scheduled in the coming days.

The expansion is also important for European competition. UEFA require a minimum capacity for Champions League matches, meaning Barcelona must continue to play home fixtures at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys for now.

Flick's side will face Paris Saint-Germain there in their second match, as well as Real Sociedad in La Liga this weekend.

Despite the uncertainty, the club remain hopeful. "We are confident that the necessary steps will be completed soon," a Barcelona source has said, with officials keen to ensure the stadium is fully cleared to host matches safely.

Should the lateral stand be approved, discussions with UEFA will follow over the possibility of staging the remainder of the group stage at Camp Nou.

For the supporters, a return to their spiritual home is edging closer, with Barcelona eager to mark the occasion against local rivals Girona in front of a much larger crowd.