Man City fans could be left high and dry by UEFA as the Champions League final could be rescheduled – Express

Manchester City supporters could be forced into a frenzied change of plans for this year’s Champions League final provided Pep Guardiola’s side get to that point, with UEFA reportedly considering a venue change over fears of public unrest in Istanbul .

The Sky Blues see their chances of progressing to their second Champions League final in three years after a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu on Tuesday. Real Madrid will visit the Etihad Stadium next week for the second leg as the two sides prepare to battle for a ticket to Istanbul.

If City are victorious, supporters will certainly quickly prepare for the final, which is scheduled for June 10. The Ataturk Olympic Stadium will play host for the first time since 2005, when Liverpool made its famous comeback. against AC Milan.

The final was due to take place in Istanbul in 2020, but the organizers moved it to Lisbon due to the Covid pandemic.

With concern for City fans, The Daily Mail claims UEFA chiefs are reconsidering whether to reschedule this year’s showdown over the threat of unrest in Turkey’s capital. The first round of the presidential election will take place on May 14.

Civil unrest has been touted as current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan loses to Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who currently has a 5 percent lead in the polls. If the margin remains this narrow, the election could go to a second round on May 28.

City enjoyed the lion’s share of possession at the Bernabeu, although they fell behind in the first half with Vinicius Jr’s powerful strike. Kevin De Bruyne scored a similarly impressive goal after the break, making next week’s game a winner-takes-all scenario.

Guardiola’s side will be desperate to avoid a repeat of last season’s second leg against Madrid when they conceded twice after the 89th minute to force extra time, then Karim Benzema scored a dramatic winner from the penalty spot.