UEFA has approved Barcelona’s request to start the 2025/26 campaign away. That clears a home date on October 1 in Barcelona, with Camp Nou the first choice and Montjuïc ready if needed. The league phase will open away on September 18, then the second game will be at home on October 1. The goal is to buy extra time to prepare the first European night back in the city.
According to reports coming out of Spain, the club asked to flip Matchday 1 so Matchday 2 could be played in Barcelona on October 1, and UEFA agreed. There is also a TV requirement: the Lateral stand must be open that night. The club informed UEFA that Camp Nou is the intended venue for European games, with the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc booked as the fallback until February if the completion certificate is not ready in time.
Dates and times
All kickoffs are at 21:00, except Matchday 3 at 18:45. The schedule published by the club is as follows:
- Matchday 1: Thu Sep 18, 21:00: Newcastle vs Barcelona
- Matchday 2: Wed Oct 1, 21:00: Barcelona vs Paris Saint Germain
- Matchday 3: Tue Oct 21, 18:45: Barcelona vs Olympiacos
- Matchday 4: Wed Nov 5, 21:00: Club Brugge vs Barcelona
- Matchday 5: Tue Nov 25, 21:00: Chelsea vs Barcelona
- Matchday 6: Tue Dec 9, 21:00: Barcelona vs Eintracht Frankfurt
- Matchday 7: Wed Jan 21, 21:00: Slavia Prague vs Barcelona
- Matchday 8: Wed Jan 28, 21:00: Barcelona vs Copenhagen
The week of the Clásico
Barcelona host Olympiacos on Tuesday, October 21 at 18:45, right before the Clásico at the Bernabéu. Real Madrid play Juventus on Wednesday, October 22 at 21:00. That gives Barcelona one extra day of rest before the league match.
