- Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium will have a different name when they host German side Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League
- According to UEFA rules, clubs like Arsenal must use a different name for their stadiums during European nights
- The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw at the BayArena last week, leaving the game at Arsenal well set.
Arsenal will return to the Champions League on Tuesday night Bayer Leverkusen when it visits North London.
Source: Getty Images
Kai Havertz came off the bench to score a last minute penalty to avoid Arsenal’s embarrassment last week in the first leg.
Then Arsenal came back strongly and beat Everton 2-0 to be ahead of Manchester City for nine points in the Premier League.
Arteta will be keen to build on that momentum as he bids to win the club’s first Champions League title and maintain their squad’s quadruple.
“Bayer Leverkusen are very well coached, a team with a very clear structure, very good people. It is clear that we are in the stage, in the competition we have right now, so we know what we have to do, and in front of our crowd, and our people, putting all the energy in the world again, we hope we will do it,” said Arteta via the club’s website.
However, despite the game being played at the famous Emirates Stadium, UEFA recognizes the stadium differently during the night of the Champions League.
Why is the Emirates Stadium called Arsenal Stadium in the Champions League?
As BBC Sport reports, UEFA has strict rules regarding stadium sponsors and requires host clubs to provide a ‘clean stadium’.
This means that the sponsor’s trademark, brand colors or logo cannot appear anywhere in the commercial area of a stadium hosting UEFA matches.
UEFA does not recognize sponsors, and in Arsenal’s case, the Emirates Stadium becomes Arsenal Stadium on Champions League nights.
Source: Getty Images
What other stadiums are changing their names?
This rule is not unique to Arsenal. Allianz Stadium of Bayern Munich it is officially recognized as the Munich Football Stadium every time the Bavarians play in Europe.
That’s the same name used during last season’s Champions League final, where Paris Saint-Germain beat Inter Milan to win their first title.
Other stadiums changing their names include Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, known as Manchester City Stadium.
Has the sponsor’s name been completely removed from the plots?
Nope. The downside to this rule is that clubs can still announce the stadium sponsor over the PA system before a match.
UEFA also allows all permanent markings outside the pitch to remain, including on printed materials.
Supercomputer predicts the winner of the Champions League
Meanwhile, Opta had already predicted who would win the Champions League after the Round of 16 draw was completed.
England’s teams have their work cut out for them after disappointing first matches. Chelsea was beaten 5-2 by PSG, Manchester City was beaten 3-0 by Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid beat Tottenham 5-2, and Liverpool lost to Galatasaray 1-0.
Arsenal have the best route to the final after all the winners since 2016 were placed on the same side of the draw.
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