Everything ready at Estadi Johan Cruyff to host Barcelona vs Valencia

Barcelona play their first home game of the 2025/26 season this Sunday when they take on Valencia on Matchday 4 of La Liga.

However, it will not be taking place at the Spotify Camp Nou and instead, the match will be played at the Catalans’ reserve stadium, Estadi Johan Cruyff.

Despite the club’s best efforts, the First Occupancy Licence needed to reopen the stadium partially was not obtained, leading to the match being played at the stadium in Sant Joan Despi.

Estadi Johan Cruyff ready to host Barcelona vs Valencia

Now, according to SPORT, Estadi Johan Cruyff has begun to reveal its new look after the renovations carried out this week in preparation for the Barçelona-Valencia match.

The best test came on Friday during the Liga F match between Barça Femeni and DUX Logrono, where several of the implemented upgrades could already be seen.

The most visible change was the new VAR camera system, which will be fully operational for the men’s first team debut.

The equipment, strategically placed in different areas of the stadium, was one of the essential requirements for Estadi Johan Cruyff to be authorised to host a La Liga match.

In recent hours, adjustments have also been made to accommodate the installation of goal-line cameras, another demand from La Liga to give the green light to the game.

Estadi Cruyff will host Barcelona vs Valencia. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Workers even carried out welding tasks in the area of the master cameras to ensure everything is ready for the final setup.

A unique match

Additional tests have been conducted on the lighting, as well as improvements to the press room and broadcast facilities, all crucial for a match that will be followed globally.

Access points have also been reviewed to guarantee a smoother and safer flow of supporters, although in this respect, logistics were already well prepared.

The major limitation remains the capacity: Estadi Johan Cruyff holds 6,000 spectators, far below the 15,000 required by La Liga regulations for top-flight stadiums. However, Barça have made use of an exception allowing the competition to be staged in Sant Joan Despi.

It will be the first official first-team match to take place in this venue, where Flick’s side already played the Joan Gamper Trophy against Como.

The women’s team match provided proof that the stadium is ready to step up in its temporary role as the home of the first team during the renovation of the Camp Nou.

The fibre optics, the cameras, and ultimately everything needed to stage the clash against Valencia are now in place.

Source: Sports Yahoo