UEFA approves Barcelona's Camp Nou return in Champions League

UEFA has approved Barcelona's plan to host Champions League games at their partially renovated Camp Nou, according to the La Liga club on Wednesday.

This announcement follows closely on the heels of Barcelona's reveal of their eagerly anticipated comeback to league fixtures at the venue, which faced significant construction disruptions, ending over two years away from home.

The Spanish title holders will welcome Eintracht Frankfurt to Camp Nou on December 9, shortly after the stadium's official reopening against Athletic Bilbao in a league match on November 22.

In an official release, Barcelona noted that "UEFA has approved the application after confirming compliance with all required standards."

This approval concludes a turbulent chapter marked by multiple delays in the stadium's reopening, caused by building setbacks and issues obtaining necessary safety certifications.

Early in the season, the team was compelled to stage two games at the modest 6,000-seat Johan Cruyff academy facility due to lacking the essential permissions for Camp Nou on safety grounds.

Subsequently, they shifted to the 55,000-capacity Olympic venue situated on Montjuic hill.

The initial Camp Nou fixture versus Bilbao will accommodate a provisional crowd of 45,401, expanding to 105,000 once the upper level finishes construction.

In mid-November, the club permitted 23,000 supporters to attend a practice session as a trial run ahead of the full resumption.

Such prolonged disruptions have inflicted substantial economic damage on the side, which relies on matchday earnings from the arena to restore fiscal health.

Plagued by monetary woes, Barcelona is projected to invest 1.5 billion euros ($1.74bn) in the overall renovation project.