Why Atalanta must play Europa League game on Wednesday and not Thursday | OneFootball

Atalanta will have to play the first leg of their Europa League Round of 16 tie against Sporting CP on a Wednesday, one day before every other team left in the draw, due to a scheduling clash in Lisbon.

Sporting and Benfica, two Lisbon-based sides, were both drawn at home for the first leg of the round of 16.

As is customary for reasons relating to safety, infrastructure and availability of resources, two teams from the same city will not be permitted to play home matches on the same day, even if the games are played in different stadia.

On this occasion, Benfica will play their fist leg against Scottish Premier League side Rangers on the traditional Europa League Thursday. They will kick off at 20.00 GMT on March 7.

Atalanta, however, have had their away game against Sporting moved forwards to Wednesday March 6, which will kick-off in the early evening at 17.45 GMT.

It will be Atalanta’s second trip to the Estadio Jose Alvalade this season, as they had been drawn in the same Europa League group as the Portuguese heavyweights.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are unbeaten against Sporting this season, having won 2-1 in Portugal back in October, before drawing 1-1 in Bergamo in December.