UEFA Approves Real Madrid's Special Request Ahead of Arsenal Showdown
- Real Madrid often submit a special request ahead of major Champions League nights, but it requires UEFA’s approval
- The club has received the green light this time, just hours before their high-stakes clash with Arsenal
- It’s a move that could give them a psychological edge on home turf as they aim to overturn a 3-0 deficit
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UEFA has granted Real Madrid permission to close the retractable roof at the Santiago Bernabéu for their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal on Wednesday, April 16.
The Spanish giants made the special request in an effort to maximise home advantage, knowing they must overturn a 3-0 deficit from the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Source: Getty Images
Declan Rice’s two superb free-kicks and a late goal from Mikel Merino left Los Blancos facing a near-impossible task.
Bernabéu roof to create an electrifying atmosphere
Real Madrid's £1.5 billion stadium renovation included the installation of a state-of-the-art retractable roof, designed to amplify noise and create a more intimidating environment.
While they are free to use this feature for domestic matches, UEFA approval is required for Champions League games.
The roof must be closed before kickoff and cannot be adjusted mid-game or at halftime.
Source: Getty Images
Real believe the enclosed atmosphere could provide the extra push needed against a defensively solid Arsenal, who haven’t conceded three goals in a game since last season.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti commented on the difference the roof makes:
"Acoustically, it's different, there's more noise, a much better atmosphere, I think. That can encourage the team to be even more motivated."
UEFA approval criteria for stadium modifications
UEFA requires clubs to submit requests for any stadium modifications, such as closing a retractable roof, well in advance of a match, hence their reason for approving Real Madrid's request.
However, approval is contingent upon factors like safety, compliance with UEFA regulations, and the potential impact on the game's integrity.
For instance, during the 2017 Champions League final in Cardiff between Real Madrid and Juventus (a match Los Blancos won 4-1), the decision to close the roof was made by the Football Association of Wales after consultations with authorities, primarily due to security concerns following a terrorist attack in Manchester.
This underscores that safety and regulatory compliance are paramount in UEFA's decision-making process.
Arsenal’s response to Real Madrid’s roof closure
While there has been no official statement from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as regards UEFA's decision to approve Real Madrid's request, the Spaniard however acknowledged the psychological narrative surrounding Los Blancos' history of European comebacks.
Arteta said during his press conference before the game: "I understand that comeback is part of [Madrid's] history, and they have earned the right to be talking about these kinds of scenarios."
The Spaniard however emphasized his team's focus on their own performance.
He said: "Ours is very different in our mindset, preparation, and our thoughts, and how we're going to have the best chance to be better than them in the aspects that are crucial in the game, because they want to take the game to places very different to our intentions, and if we do that we'll have a good chance to win the game."
Arteta added that Arsenal would not play defensively to protect their 3-0 lead but would aim to win again, staying true to their identity and playing style.
Real Madrid seek comeback amid mixed squad news
Carlo Ancelotti will be without Eduardo Camavinga, who was sent off in the first leg, but Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr are both expected to return to the starting lineup.
Bellingham was reportedly involved in a training ground bust-up with teammate Antonio Rudiger last Friday, adding tension to an already high-stakes encounter.
Despite the odds, Real Madrid are counting on the magic of the Bernabéu and a roaring home crowd to inspire yet another European comeback.
Bellingham clashes with Rudiger
As the reigning European champions prepare for the Arsenal tie, a training ground bust-up occurred between Jude Bellingham and Antonio Rudiger on Friday, April 11, with teammates forced to intervene.
According to Spanish outlet El Chiringuito, the reported altercation happened during a small-sided game, after Rudiger put in a rough tackle on Bellingham, prompting an angry reaction from the England midfielder.
The two had to be separated, though it’s understood that the situation was quickly resolved and deemed a typical flare-up during a tense period in the season.
Partey earns praise after Real Madrid masterclass
YEN.com.gh also reported on the praise for Partey from a Spanish football legend after his commanding display against Real Madrid.
The Black Stars powerhouse dominated the midfield as Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 victory in the first leg of their UCL quarter-final clash.
Nomso Obiajuru was a contributing writer in this article
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Source: YEN.com.gh
Isaac Darko (Sports Editor) Isaac Darko is a Sports Editor at Yen, boasting over 10 years of experience in the media industry. He has produced award-winning TV shows such as "Football 360" and "Sports XTRA" on ViaSat 1/Kwese TV. Isaac began his career as an Assistant Producer at TV3 Ghana Limited (Media General) and also contributed as a Writer and Weekend Editor for Pulse Ghana. He earned his bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (now University of Media, Arts and Communication). Email: isaac.darko@sportsbrief.com.
Samuel Gitonga (Copy editor) Samuel Gitonga is a Copy Editor at YEN.com.gh. He holds a Bachelor of Broadcast Journalism Degree from the Multimedia University of Kenya. He has over 7 years’ experience in the digital journalism industry. He started out his career at the Kenya News Agency and proceeded to work for several reputable media outlets in Nairobi.
