BOTH of Arsenal’s Europa League games against Benfica will be played on neutral territory, Uefa have confirmed.
Due to coronavirus travel restrictions, the two sides are unable to meet in England or Portugal for the last-32 clash.
Arsenal will play both legs of their Europa League last-32 clash with Benfica on neutral soil, with the first leg in Rome and second likely to be in AthensCredit: Getty Images – Getty
UK restrictions mean Arsenal’s entire travelling party would have to quarantine in a hotel for ten days after playing in Portugal.
Benfica’s ‘home’ game will take place at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on February 18.
Arsenal are then expected to play their ‘home’ game in Athens – 2,000 MILES away from the Emirates – on February 25, with Olympiacos’ Karaiskakis Stadium likely to welcome the clubs.
However, Uefa have not yet confirmed the location for the second leg.
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The European governing body have confirmed that away goals WILL still be a tie-breaker, despite both legs going ahead abroad.
Meanwhile, Manchester United will also play part of their Europa League clash against Real Sociedad on neutral territory.
Spanish government restriction on travel from the UK mean the Basque side cannot host the last-32 first-leg tie.
It will instead be played at the Juventus Stadium on Thursday February 18, kicking off at 5.55pm.
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United will still be able to play the second leg at Old Trafford a week later, with kick-off set for 8pm.
Elsewhere, Spurs are able to travel to Austria for their tie with Wolfsberger, while Leicester can fly to Prague for the clash with Slavia in the Czech capital.
In the Champions League, Chelsea’s first leg against Atletico Madrid is set to be switched to either Bucharest or Warsaw.
The LaLiga leaders are desperate to play on home soil in the Wanda Metropolitano.
Their preferred option is understood to be Bucharest’s Arena Nationala, the venue where Diego Simeone’s side beat Marcelo Bielsa’s Athletic Bilbao to win the Europa League in 2012.
But the alternative is the National Stadium in the Polish capital Warsaw.
Uefa have already announced Liverpool and Manchester City will play their Champions League last-16 first legs on neutral soil.
The Premier League duo face German outfits Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach respectively, with both games to be played at Budapest’s Puskas Arena.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
