In a dramatic late shake-up that will affect thousands of travelling fans, the fixture schedule for the highly anticipated UEFA Champions League quarter-finals has been radically overhauled.
The changes, forced by broadcasting demands, directly impact both Premier League titans still in the competition: Liverpool and Manchester City.
Broadcasters Call the Shots
The entire rescheduling fiasco stems from a decision by UK broadcasters BT Sport. To maximise viewership across both legs of the quarter-finals, they insisted that the two English clubs must not play their matches simultaneously.
This demand for exclusive prime-time viewing slots left UEFA with no choice but to tear up the original schedule and draft a new one, causing a significant logistical headache for the clubs and their supporters.
The New Champions League Line-Up
So, when will your team play? Here is the new confirmed schedule for the first legs:
- Tuesday, 5th April: The action kicks off with Benfica vs Liverpool at the Estádio da Luz. This match will be an early 8:00 PM BST start.
- Tuesday, 5th April: Later that same evening, Manchester City hosts Atlético Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in a blockbuster 8:00 PM BST clash.
- Wednesday, 6th April: The following night features Chelsea's trip to the Bernabéu to face Real Madrid at 8:00 PM BST.
- Wednesday, 6th April: Rounding off the week, Villarreal welcomes Bayern Munich to the Estadio de la Cerámica for another 8:00 PM BST kick-off.
The second legs will follow the same pattern the subsequent week, ensuring each tie gets its own dedicated television spotlight.
What This Means for Fans and the Premier League
This last-minute change is more than just an inconvenience. It has a ripple effect on domestic schedules. The Premier League has now been forced to adjust its own fixtures to accommodate this European drama.
Most notably, Manchester City's pivotal league clash with Liverpool, originally set for Sunday, April 10th, has been pushed back 24 hours. The two giants of English football will now collide at the Etihad on Monday, 11th April in what promises to be a title-deciding spectacle.
For the fans who had already made travel arrangements to Portugal and Spain, this rescheduling presents a fresh set of challenges and potential extra costs.
While the broadcast logic is clear from a commercial standpoint, it serves as a stark reminder of the immense power and influence held by television companies in modern football, often at the expense of the match-going supporter.
