Chelsea Given Lifeline as UEFA moves First-leg Real Madrid clash to Santiago Bernabeu

Chelsea have inadvertently been given more time to resolve their issues surrounding selling tickets and having fans in the stadium ahead of their Champions League quarterfinal clash.

Defending champions Chelsea were drawn against record-winners Real Madrid in the quarterfinals of this season’s Champions League quarterfinal.

The first leg of the encounter was slated to be at Stamford Bridge on April 5 or April 6 with the return leg to be played at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 12 or April 13.

However, due to Atletico Madrid’s quarterfinal return-leg clash with Manchester City happening the same week in Madrid, UEFA has chosen to reschedule the venues for the Chelsea/Real Madrid fixture.

Chelsea will now play the first-leg of their fixture against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu while the return leg will be played at Stamford Bridge.

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid cannot play home games in Madrid during the same week due to logistics and crowd control measures.

The latest development gives Chelsea one extra week to resolve current restrictions surrounding the sale of tickets and admitting fans into the Stadium before they welcome Real Madrid.

As part of sanctions on Roman Abramovich’s assets, Chelsea are not permitted to sell tickets to fans for home games with only season ticket holders currently allowed access to Stamford Bridge on Matchdays.

Bids to buy Chelsea are expected to be submitted before the 9pm (UK time) deadline on Friday, March 18. By April 12/13, new ownership might have resolved issues concerning ticket sales and fans admission.