Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GUNNERS v BENFICA MAY BE ONE LEG SHOOT-OUT
ARSENAL’S Europa League clash with Benfica this month could end up being a one-off shoot-out at a neutral venue.
New rules issued by UEFA have raised the possibility of making the last-32 glamour tie a one-leg affair, because Portugal is on the UK “red list” for travel.
The first leg in Lisbon is currently set for February 18, with the return leg a week later in London, but the two sides are locked in talks over alternatives.
Travel restrictions mean Arsenal would be forced to isolate for 10 days on their return to the UK – with Benfica facing similar issues for the second leg.
Arsenal are working on the basis the tie will be over two legs, but UEFA could go for a more dramatic intervention.
Competition rules say: ”UEFA has the right to assign an alternative venue… or to decide both legs be rescheduled and/or organised as a single leg.”
The rules also provide for ties to be reversed, which could be an option for Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Leipzig.
Flights to Germany are banned until February 17 – the day after the Reds are due to play the tie’s away first leg.
As long as the flight ban is not extended, reversing the fixture solves the problem, but would also mean Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and skipper Jordan Henderson (above) losing crucial home advantage for the second leg.
Tottenham could also be affected if the flight ban is not lifted – and an elite athlete exemption is not applied – as they are due to travel to Germany to face Wolfsburg in the Europa League on February 18.
UEFA was forced to schedule a series of single-leg ties in Portugal and Germany to enable last season’s Champions League and Europa League to be finished.