Barcelona suffered a major blow ahead of the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final after the Barcelona City Council refused to allow the stadium to operate at Phase 1C, meaning capacity will remain capped at 45,000.
62,000 fans was the last hope
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According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan club had hoped to increase capacity to 62,000 to provide greater fan support for the second leg, especially after the heavy 4-0 defeat at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Barcelona’s management had planned to open Phase 1C during previous La Liga matches against Levante and Villarreal, but official approvals were not granted. This latest decision definitively closes the door on any increase in attendance before the crucial match against Atlético Madrid.
Loss of support from the North Stand
Had Phase 1C been activated, the currently closed North Stand could have been opened to fans, which would have given the team a significant morale boost in their quest for a historic comeback.
However, under the current circumstances, the match will be played in front of only 45,000 spectators, the same capacity that has been in place since official matches resumed at Camp Nou following renovations.
What about the upcoming matches?
All eyes are now on the activation date of the new phase, especially since Barcelona will play a home game against Sevilla in La Liga on March 15, a day that coincides with the elections, followed by the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie against Newcastle United on March 18.
The municipality’s decision has presented Barcelona’s management with a complex organizational and fan-related challenge at a crucial point in the season, where they cannot afford to lose any advantage on the pitch.
