Real Madrid have been given permission to close the roof of the Bernabeu for the upcoming clash against Champions League holders Manchester City in the first leg of their quarter-final tie tonight.
The 14-time European champions sought to shut the new retractable roof to enhance the atmosphere when facing Pep Guardiola’s team, who overcame Madrid in last season’s semi-finals.
The iconic Bernabeu stadium in the Spanish capital has undergone recent developments, and Real also received approval to close the roof for the second leg of their last-16 tie against RB Leipzig last month.
Both UEFA and the match referee had to grant Madrid permission to close the roof, with Manchester City, the visitors, having no influence over the decision.
Real Madrid are facing City for the third consecutive season in the Champions League, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side eager for revenge following their 4-0 defeat at the Etihad last year.
City went on to win the Champions League for the first time and Spanish midfielder Rordi says the treble winners return to the Bernabeu with more “experience” and “composure”.
Guardiola, who managed Madrid’s arch rivals Barcelona, said: "It’s the same managers, but we have new players and they have new players, so they will be completely different games.
"We have a little advantage with the second leg at home, where we play strong and are incredibly confident, but we have to play 90 minutes here and the games are long for different reasons.
"We cannot come here just to control the game. We have to come here to try to hurt them, to punish them, to let them feel we are here and score goals. That is what we have to do.
"But we are talking about Real Madrid, who have the ability to control many aspects of the game. We have to impose our game with who we are."
