Xabier Isasa / Germán Melero
Donostia
Journalists
The macabre health crisis that has the population in check kept a grimace if possible more unlikely for the Real
Society. One of those days marked in red will have to be celebrated in exile. 1,100 long kilometers away. One of the most modern and spectacular courses in the world, the Allianz
Stadium from Turin, will host the departure of the Round of 32 of the Europa League between Real and Manchester United. The Gipuzkoan club confirmed late yesterday afternoon an agreement with Juventus and UEFA to play the game in northern Italy, only at the expense of the transalpine government giving its approval to host Gipuzkoans and English in its territory. It is the last pending requirement for the change of venue to be official. There should be no problems since yesterday it was confirmed that another tie with an English club involved, the Benfica-Arsenal, It will be played in Rome for the same reasons.
La Real had to reluctantly assume that it will be impossible to play in Anoeta, after fighting and rushing until the last moment to be able to dispute the clash in their stadium. The prohibition from entry to Spain from flights from Kingdom
United until February 16 and the uncertainty that this ban could be extended over time forced the Txuri Urdin club to make the decision to play the match in another setting. The health situation advised against the necessary authorization from the Government of Spain.
The Allianz Stadium from Juventus has been the first option to shelter Real in their duel against him United, among other things because it was one of the fields proposed by UEFA to host matches for teams from other countries forced to play outside their borders. The highest European body offered the Royal several alternative countries and, within Italy, several stadiums but from Anoeta contacted the Juve from the beginning and an entente was reached, among others economic. Changing the stage duel supposes an added cost to the Real that must pay the trip and the expenses to open the stadium. It is trusted that Juve demand a small price.
An unprecedented case
This is an unprecedented situation in the Real. Although in the 87/88 Cup Winners’ Cup, the txuri urdin team had to play a tie against the Polish Slask Wroclaw in San Mamés by not meeting Atotxa the requirements demanded by UEFA, having to ‘expatriate’ in European competition is something unknown. It responds to a new lethal consequence of the pandemic, for which the Government of Pedro Sánchez prohibits the British population from entering Spain. The game is scheduled for Thursday of the week that It comes, the 18th, at 6:55 p.m. The return will be on 25 in Old
Trafford.
La Real is not the only club affected. Yesterday other exiles were confirmed in the Europe
League. The Benfica will host Arsenal in Rome. This is an example comparable to Real–United. Portugal has restricted access even to those who come from Spain and Arsenal represents England, like Manchester. Italy also rescues Lisboners and Londoners. The venue also changes Molde-Hoffenheim. The duel between Danes and Germans will take place in The
Madrigal.
Confirmed the scenario, the Real works on the itinerary prior to the duel with Manchester. It is foreseeable that a training session will be organized the day before in a Allianz
Stadium built in 2011 and whose 41,507 seats will be empty in the Real–United more denatured.