Manchester City will likely play in a rejigged Santiago Bernabeu different from their last visit to the stadium last season, MySportDab reports.
The Cityzens played their 2022/23 Champions League semifinal first leg againstĀ Real Madrid in an open stadium but that will not be the case again today.
According to Daily Mail, Real Madrid have written UEFA, asking for permission to close the roof of the Santiago Bernabeu for their 2023/24 quarterfinal first-leg against Manchester City.
Close sources reveal the move to close the stadium is orchestrated by the club’s chiefs to whip up a hostile atmosphere against Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu – a tactic that was reportedly deployed by Manchester City as well when Real Madrid visited Etihad for the second-leg of last year’s semifinal clash.
Real Madrid’s club chiefs believe Manchester City’s antics – closing the Etihad in the second leg last year – played a huge role in the 4-0 capitulation of the Madrid-based outfit, hence the need to recreate a similar atmosphere and pay back the defending champions with the same coin today.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti had aimed a subtle dig at Manchester City, blasting the club for lacking courage after the mind game at Etihad but Pep Guardiola refuted him, insisting the better side won.
It is yet to be determined whether the closed stadium at Etihad actually tweaked the game in Manchester City’s favor. Nevertheless, Real Madrid are ready to implement the same by rolling out their newly constructed retractable to cover the stadium today.
However, they have to await approval from UEFA to do so with the governing body set to decide on the request a few hours before the kick-off.
