Barcelona are in search of to overturn a 2-0 mixture deficit in the Champions League quarter-finals against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, the place the enjoying floor could be below the highlight simply as a lot because the gamers.
The floor at Atletico’s Metropolitano Stadium has come below scrutiny in latest weeks, with Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick even discussing the difficulty with a UEFA delegate throughout his facet’s coaching session in the stadium on Monday, in line with sources with information of the matter.
Barcelona sources briefed on the scenario, talking on the situation of anonymity, stated that they’re involved in regards to the high quality of the pitch after that coaching session and regard it as being in a worse state than in their February assembly on the Metropolitano — the 4-0 first-leg defeat in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. The membership aren’t anticipated to make a formal grievance to UEFA, nevertheless.
Atletico sources stated that the size of grass is all the time stored on the applicable degree, including that the pitch has improved for the reason that begin of the yr and isn’t, and has by no means been, a problem for groups enjoying on the stadium.
There have been a number of high-profile incidents of gamers slipping on the sphere on the Metropolitano.
Madrid was topic to heavy rain in January and February, which affected the pitch. The climate additionally affected different golf equipment in the Spanish capital, similar to Rayo Vallecano, who had a house sport against Real Oviedo postponed in February and have been pressured to play against Atletico at Leganes’ stadium.
Atletico sources added that Barcelona additionally performed on the Metropolitano between the Copa del Rey and Champions League video games — which they received 2-1 — and that the sphere complies with UEFA’s Champions League rules.
Article 34 of those rules states: “The home club must make every reasonable effort to ensure that the pitch is in the best possible condition for play. If the climatic conditions so require, facilities such as pitch heating and a pitch cover must be provided to ensure that the field of play is in a suitable condition on any match date.”
UEFA or a third get together mandated by the governing physique could perform inspections of the pitch earlier than and through matches to find out whether or not it’s appropriate. The guidelines additionally state that watering of the pitch should conclude an hour earlier than kick-off, although the house membership can determine to permit additional watering between 10 and 5 minutes earlier than kick-off and for a most of 5 minutes throughout half-time.
In the Copa del Rey sport, the opening objective got here after a cross from Eric Garcia rolled below the foot of Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia and throughout the road.
Last month, the pitch was a factor in Atletico’s 5-2 first-leg win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League spherical of 16. Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, making his debut in the competitors, slipped in the penalty space whereas trying a cross and gave the ball away, resulting in Marcos Llorente’s opener in the sixth minute.
Antoine Griezmann capitalised on a slip from Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven to fit previous Kinsky to make it 2-0 on 14 minutes. A minute later, Kinsky made a related mistake to Garcia, scuffing a backpass immediately into the trail of Julian Alvarez for 3-0.
Kinsky was at fault for 2 of Atletico’s targets earlier than being substituted in the seventeenth minute (Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
After the match, Griezmann stated, through AS, that Atletico “took advantage of some of their mistakes, the pitch was very slippy, and we’re more used to it”.
However, Atletico gamers have been essential of the enjoying floor in the previous. After a 1-0 house defeat by Real Betis in February, captain Koke stated, via Marca: “The truth is it’s not good, we were slipping over, (the turf) comes up. For a team like Atletico, we need the pitch to be good to play. We’re expected to play to a good level and we need a high-level field to play.”
Atletico head coach Diego Simeone has beforehand addressed the difficulty however maintained that the pitch is identical for either side.
Meanwhile, after their first leg loss, Barcelona filed a grievance with UEFA relating to an incident the place Atletico defender Marc Pubill put his hand on the ball in the penalty space after goalkeeper Juan Musso appeared to restart the sport with a objective kick. The incident was not reviewed by the video assistant referee and no penalty was awarded. UEFA introduced on Tuesday that its management ethics and disciplinary physique discovered the protest to be inadmissible.
