Why the Santiago Bernabeu roof will be closed for Real Madrid vs Man City
Champions League
Why the Santiago Bernabeu roof will be closed for Real Madrid vs Man City
Real Madrid taking on Manchester City in first leg of Champions League quarter-final
Carlo Ancelotti's side have home advantage in latest meeting between heavyweights
Bernabeu roof was also closed for Madrid's last 16 tie; UEFA again approve request
By Toby Cudworth
Apr 9, 2024
Real Madrid's Bernabeu hosts Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie
Real Madrid's Bernabeu hosts Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie / Florencia Tan Jun/GettyImages
UEFA have granted Real Madrid's request for the Santiago Bernabeu roof to be closed when they take on Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
The two European heavyweights renew their rivalry for a third successive season, this time at the last eight stage after meeting in the semi-finals during 2021/22 and 2022/23.
City emerged last victorious last season before beating Inter to win their first-ever Champions League crown, while Madrid triumphed a year earlier ahead of downing Liverpool in Paris - a win that sealed a record-breaking 14th European title.
Madrid had requested that their newly refurbished 85,000 capacity home have the roof shut on Tuesday, and following a meeting between match delegates and referee Francois Letexier, the decision has been made to grant Madrid's wish. They were also granted permission to close the roof for their last 16 clash with RB Leipzig four weeks ago.
Why is the roof closed for Real Madrid's clash with Man City?
Vinícius Júnior jostles with Benjamin Henrichs during Real Madrid's clash with RB Leipzig
The roof was also closed when Real Madrid took on Leipzig / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages
The short answer as to why the roof is closed is because Madrid want to create a thunderous atmosphere that can provide the perfect backdrop for what many neutrals hope will be one of the season's most entertaining ties.
There's no UEFA ruling that prevents Madrid from making such a request, nor is their previous rejections to use as a guideline - it's essentially a practice that is incredibly uncommon because most purpose-built football stadiums around the world do not have a retractable roof.
Madrid clearly feel their is an advantage to be had by containing the noise from within the stadium, so Pep Guardiola's challenge will now be keeping his players focused ahead of a fourth trip to the Spanish capital under his management.
City's only win under the Spaniard in Madrid came in February 2020, when Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne turned the first leg of their last 16 tie on its head after Isco's opening goal on the hour.
The two teams had to wait over five months to play the second leg because of the Covid-19 pandemic - which forced football around the world to be suspended - and City were the winners on that night too. They ended up being eliminated by outsiders Lyon in the quarter-finals when the remainder of that season's competition was played in one-legged ties in Portugal.
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Champions League quarter-finals 2023/24: Combined XI
Picking a combined XI of the best players set to feature in the quarter-finals
Jude Bellingham and Kevin De Bruyne among stars to make the cut
Three Man City players feature but only one from Arsenal
By Jack Gallagher
Apr 9, 2024
Two superstars
Two superstars / Danehouse Photography Ltd / Contributor and Mateo Villalba / Contributor
After a rather drab round of 16, we're into the real business end of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League season.
The draw has kindly given us plenty of mouth-watering ties to get excited about, with Real Madrid facing Manchester City and Bayern Munich going head-to-head with Arsenal this week.
So ahead of all of that fun, we at 90min have decided to pick a combined XI of all the best players set to feature in this week's UEFA Champions League action...
GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona)
Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Top class / Alex Caparros/GettyImages
While Marc-Andre ter Stegen was out injured during the first half of the season, Barcelona were genuinely quite bad.
Now that he's back to full fitness, Barcelona are genuinely quite again.
That isn't a coincidence.
The Barca number has been outstanding in recent months, helping his team to an 11-game unbeaten run by keeping six clean sheets. Nice one.
RB: Achraf Hakimi (Paris-Saint Germain)
Achraf Hakimi
Consistent performer / Franco Arland/GettyImages
We're not exactly awash with top class options at right-back to be brutally honest, with Achraf Hakimi rather comfortably being the best of the bunch.
The full-back has been considered to be one of the best around ever since he burst onto the scene while on the books at Borussia Dortmund.
Now in his third season at PSG, Hakimi is as effective as ever, providing solidity at the back and genuine quality in the final third.
CB: William Saliba (Arsenal)
William Saliba
One of the best in the business / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages
There's a very good reason why Arsenal have the best defensive record in the Premier League this season, and that reason is William Saliba.
The young France international has established himself as arguably the best centre-back in the world over the last 18 months thanks to his defensive dominance and class with the ball at his feet.
CB: Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
Antonio Rudiger
Real Madrid's leader in defence / Diego Souto/GettyImages
As the only Real Madrid centre-back who hasn't suffered an ACL injury this season, it's fair to say that Antonio Rudiger has been a vital part of Carlo Ancelotti's plans recently.
The German has grown into his role as the leader of Madrid's backline, becoming one of the most reliable centre-backs in Europe as a result.
LB: Joao Cancelo (Barcelona)
Joao Cancelo
On loan from Man City / David Ramos/GettyImages
Every season Joao Cancelo randomly flicks between being one of the best full-backs in the world and being an average one who can't defend to save his life.
Luckily for Barcelona, during his season on loan at the club Cancelo has managed to be the former.
The Portugal international has been fantastic on left of Barca's back four, and even popped up with a crucial goal in the quarter-finals against Napoli recently too.
CM: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Kevin De Bruyne
Fully fit again / Richard Pelham/GettyImages
When fit, Kevin De Bruyne might just be the best footballer in the world.
And, worryingly for the other teams in the UEFA Champions League (especially Real Madrid), De Bruyne is currently fully fit.
His goal against Crystal Palace at the weekend was a sign of things to come from KDB on the domestic and continental front for the rest of the season.
CM: Rodri (Manchester City)
Rodri
The best around? / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages
The game-winner in the Champions League final, and pretty much every other Man City game last season too, Rodri is the most important player for the best team in the world.
Praise doesn't get too much bigger than that.
AM: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Jude Bellingham
Bellingham has gone from strength to strength in Madrid / Mateo Villalba/GettyImages
It is utterly ridiculous that Jude Bellingham is still only 20 years old.
The attacking midfielder has become the leader and face of Ancelotti's Real Madrid team, scoring a rather astonishing 20 goals and bagging eight assists for his new club since joining the summer.
He's big time.
AM: Kylian Mbappe (Paris-Saint Germain)
Kylian Mbappe
Superstar / Franco Arland/GettyImages
From a current Real Madrid superstar to a potential future one, Kylian Mbappe is seemingly entering the final few months of his illustrious PSG career.
The one thing missing from his record-shattering spell at his boyhood club is a UEFA Champions League triumph, so expect the forward to be hellbent on winning Europe's elite competition this season.
PSG aren't a great team right now, but if any footballer can single-handedly win a competition right now, it's Mbappe.
ST: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Erling Haaland
Prolific / Richard Pelham/GettyImages
The 'League Two' player' according to Roy Keane is also good enough to be in the a UEFA Champions League quarter-final teams combined XI.
That doesn't add up, does it?
And it doesn't because, despite Keane's jibe, Haaland is bloody brilliant. The fact that he's already scored more European Cup goals than Gerd Muller, Ferenc Puskas, and Wayen Rooney tells you all you need to know about Haaland's footballing ability.
ST: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Harry Kane
Still scoring plenty of goals / Alexander Hassenstein/GettyImages
Amazingly, despite joining a club who had won 11 straight Bundesliga titles, Harry Kane may be set to end his first season at Bayern Munich without a winners' medal.
Despite his team's rather hideous form domestically, Kane has continued to do his job at least by bagging 48 goal contributions in all competitions - proving that he's still one the best around.
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