Tottenham could get Arsenal derby boost with Europa League tie vs Dinamo Zagreb likely to be reversed

[mawspurs]

Tottenham's Europa League round-of-16 tie against Dinamo Zagreb is expected to be reversed to avoid a clash with neighbours Arsenal, in a possible boost for Jose Mourinho's side.
Spurs and Arsenal, who face Greek club Olympiacos in the last-16, are both due to play their first legs away on March 11 and the second leg at home a week later, with the north London derby at the Emirates Stadium sandwiched in between on Sunday, March 14.

Source: Evening Standard

 

[thecook]

SC sussed this could happen on the day of the draw!

 

[thecook]

It now has been reversed

 

[hughy]

It now has been reversed

Not too upset about this. With no crowds it's almost an advantage to play the away leg second because you know what you have to do in terms of away goals.

Hopefully we put the tie to bed in the first leg and that's all irrelevant though.

 

[Col_M]

Isn’t this all about avoiding too many fans concentrated in one area and it makes policing it a nightmare. As there are no crowds, what’s the problem?

 

[FibreOpticJesus]

Isn’t this all about avoiding too many fans concentrated in one area and it makes policing it a nightmare. As there are crowds, what’s the problem?

Assume you mean no crowds. Yep seems like rubbish to me

 

[Locotoro]

What's the reason for the reversal

 

[Marty]

What's the reason for the reversal

Even without crowds us and Arse can't play at home on the same day.

 

[db1]

Even without crowds us and Arse can't play at home on the same day.

Why's that then?

 

[spurs mental]

Why's that then?

UEFA rules

 

[thecook]

The rule is this:

If more than one club from the same city, or within a radius of 50km (31 miles) of each other, is taking part in any of the UEFA club competitions and/or plays in the same stadium, and if the association and the clubs concerned explicitly declare when entering the clubs that their matches cannot be played on the same day or on consecutive days, the UEFA administration may alter or confirm dates and kick-off times in accordance with the principles set by the Club Competitions Committee.

UEFA Documents

documents.uefa.com

They're sticking to it even without the obvious factor of no crowds being present.

 

[Who’s our next manager?]

UEFA rules

Ridiculous really

 

[Spurs 1961]

Better to play away first if we want to progress. Not sure how this helps us!

 

[mawspurs]

Better to play away first if we want to progress. Not sure how this helps us!

It helps us because we are at home the game before the NLD whereas the goons are away, so will have more recovery time after the Europa game without travel involved.

 

[14/04/91]

Ridiculous really

UEFA's motto

 

[spurs mental]

It helps us because we are at home the game before the NLD whereas the goons are away, so will have more recovery time after the Europa game without travel involved.

I still can't get over how many people aren't understanding that this is a big benefit to us.