Madrid rule out playing the return leg with Atalanta at the Bernabéu

Madrid does not contemplate playing the second leg of the Champions League with Atalanta at the Bernabéu. As is already known after the draw held yesterday in Nyon, Zidane's team has been paired for that round with Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, better known as Atalanta. The first leg has been set in the Italian field, in Bergamo, for February 24, Wednesday, at 9:00 p.m. As Madrid finished first in the group in qualifying, that's It has allowed him to get the field factor to play the second leg at home. It has been set for March 16, Tuesday (9:00 p.m.). Many thought that by then the club would have to return to the Bernabéu, that although it is still under construction, it keeps the grass in perfect condition for the dispute of a match. But the club itself cleared the doubts on its website by announcing that the match on March 16 will be played at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium of Valdebebas.

Do not forget that UEFA allows clubs this season to accept the entry of a small limited number of fans into Champions League matches, depending on the guidelines set by each Government according to the development of the pandemic. That is why there has been some audience in some matches of the first phase of the competition. In March the situation with COVID-19 could be better than now, but the club argue that As long as the Higher Sports Council does not give the green light to the return of fans to football matches, it will not move a tab and Zidane's men will continue to play behind closed doors in Valdebebas. At the moment it is only certain that in principle it could be considered that there would be some public in La Cartuja for the Cup final that Athletic de Bilbao and Real Sociedad will play in Seville on the first weekend of April 2021. But even this is not certain given that at that time the acts of Holy Week in Seville, which usually attract thousands of tourists, have been suspended. It does not seem that football will be able to make an exception. Therefore, the Madrid-Atalanta back of the round of 16 will be played at Di Stéfano and without fans. The pandemic does not give truce and it must be assumed.