BEVERLY HILLS, February 09, (THEWILL) – The United Kingdom’s recent battle against the coronavirus, especially with the more infectious variants, has been well reported. What is news is how that medical situation is impacting the participation of English football teams in continental engagements when the health advisories of host countries are taken into consideration.
Arsenal has become the latest victim of this circumstance. The first leg of their Europa League last-32 fixture against Primeira Liga side Benfica of Portugal has been moved from the club’s Lisbon stadium to Rome in Italy due to coronavirus travel restrictions that prevent the Gunners from entering Portugal.
The tie, scheduled for Thursday is only just the latest European fixture affected by the global pandemic and that necessitated a switch of hosting venues.
Last week, the venue for Liverpool’s Champions League Round-of-16 tie against Germany’s RB Leipzig had to be changed from the Leipzig grounds, the Red Bull Arena, to the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, as Germany’s health and safety protocols proscribed letting anyone in from an area affected by the coronavirus mutations until at least February 17.
The same arena was also selected as the venue for the last 16 UEFA Champions League clash between Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach, soon after the Liverpool versus Leipzig host-switch was made public, as Monchengladbach is also in Germany and is supposed to be the host of the first leg.
Arsenal’s turn for a switch in venue for their match against Benfica has come. This time around, it is not just the UK bearing the brunt of being in the “red list” of countries to which travel is currently restricted. Portugal is there as well. And although elite sports were granted exemptions from these rules in this past, these latest rounds of fixtures were not covered.
The Stadio Olimpico may be the new venue for Arsenal versus Benfica in Rome. It will by no means be the last venue switch for these continental ties. When the time comes for the return fixtures, most of these travel restrictions may still be in place and force UEFA to once more seek out more alternative venues to host these matches.
In the Portuguese Primeira Liga, Benfica is currently enduring an indifferent season, a fact that will be to the advantage of the Gunners ahead of their tie. The Eagles currently sit fourth in the Liga table, eight points adrift of rivals Sporting, who also have a game in hand.
It reflects their less-than-stellar performance in Europe as well, which is why they finished second best and are drawn against Arsenal who swept through their group with a perfect score. Benfica, on the other hand, drew three games and finished two points shy of Rangers, who were Group D winners in the group stages of the UEFA Europa competition.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, knowing how nigh impossible a top-four finish in the EPL is this season, with his side a long way off European places on the table, will be looking forward to a strong Europa League display, which will be the Gunners only realistic hope of top flight European competition next season.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
