UEFA confirms the Real Madrid Bernabeu roof request decision for the Man City match
Real Madrid’s desire to play their Champions League match against Manchester City under cover has been approved by UEFA.
The Santiago Bernabeu is undergoing renovations, and one of the new roofs installed in September has the ability to shut down the stadium when it is in use. Real will be able to organize more events throughout the year to diversify their revenue stream with the help of a retractable roof, but Los Blancos have also utilized it for football.
Real Madrid asked UEFA if Tuesday’s match may assist them achieve their goal of scaring the team that eliminated them from the Champions League the previous season.
As part of their plans to create an intimidating atmosphere to help the team against the club who knocked them out of the Champions League last season, Real asked UEFA if Tuesday’s game could take place with the roof closed – and the request has been accepted. City were aware of the situation but did not have a say in the decision as the away team.
At Real’s last game, fans held up a banner calling for all supporters to dress in white for the first leg of their quarter-final as they aim to put on a show against City. The atmosphere at the Etihad for last year’s semi-final stunned Real players and Spanish journalists in attendance, and the La Liga giants are desperate to make the most of their home advantage this year ahead of what they expect to be another tough second leg in Manchester.
Meanwhile, Spanish police confirmed they are on high alert after ISIS issued a stark warning ahead of Real’s clash with City in Madrid. The Al Azaim Foundation, a media outlet frequently used by ISIS to disseminate messages, released a chilling poster with the message ‘Kill them all’ and listing the names of the four venues hosting Champions League matches. This has led to heightened security measures in Madrid.
As for the match itself, Pep Guardiola would love his team to triumph again, although admits City are weaker than they would like to be heading into this one. Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker have been ruled out completely with injury, while there are also doubts over Josko Gvardiol.
“He’s a doubt. It is what it is. Also Madrid have [Thibault] Courtois, [David] Alaba, [Eder] Militao out this season,” said Guardiola. “It’s true that the best player to control a player like Vinicius is Kyle. Unfortunately he was injured in a friendly game. It is what it is.
“We would love to have him but what can I say. We play with 11 and try to adapt with the players that we have because injuries are part of a long season.
“But in a decisive part we have a lot of injuries in the same department in the back four and we have to find a solution. We have to think more about what we have to do and get a good result for the second leg.”
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