UEFA has officially responded to Real Madrid’s request to close the roof of their stadium for their UCL fixture against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
UEFA has granted Real Madrid permission to close the roof of the Santiago Bernabéu for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash against Arsenal.
Trailing by three goals, the Spanish giants will be hoping to harness the full force of their home support in their bid to pull off a dramatic comeback. Unlike in La Liga, where clubs have autonomy over roof decisions, UEFA regulations require official approval for the retractable roof to be shut during Champions League fixtures. The rules also state that the roof cannot be opened or closed once the match has begun.
As reported by SportBible, the governing body approved Madrid’s request, marking yet another occasion where Los Blancos have been allowed to play under a closed roof in Europe. Last season, they also used this feature during several key matches, including the home leg of their semi-final tie against Bayern Munich. In that game, Joselu’s late brace overturned the deficit, keeping Madrid’s title hopes alive.
Carlo Ancelotti previously highlighted the impact of playing under a closed roof, noting how it amplifies the noise and improves the stadium’s atmosphere, something he believes helps boost the team’s morale and energy levels.
This season, Real Madrid have maintained an impressive record at home in the Champions League, winning every game except a group-stage defeat to AC Milan, where Alvaro Morata scored against his former side in a 3-1 upset.
In the play-off round, Madrid overcame Manchester City with wins in both legs, including a home hat-trick from Kylian Mbappé. They also defeated city rivals Atletico Madrid 2-1 at home in the round of 16, ultimately advancing via penalties after a 1-0 loss in the return fixture.
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