For days, weeks, Atlético took it for granted that they would play the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Chelsea (February 23) away from the Metropolitano.

The normal thing, as it has turned out, was that the 'blue' team could not fly to Madrid due to the pandemic.

So the plan to find a stadium in which to play the duel has been slowly cooking.

After the official extension of the restrictions already in force with the United Kingdom until 4:00 p.m. on March 2 and today's meeting with UEFA, the rojiblanca entity has made official its move to the National Arena of Romania, in Bucharest.

There, as a local, he will start his adventure in the Champions League.

Although the limitations due to the British strain extended until February 16, a week before the clash against Chelsea, Atlético took it for granted that the matter would be extended, hence they were working in an alternative scenario, as required by protocol.

The second leg would not be subject to any restrictions due to the pandemic and could be played without problems at Stamford Bridge.

Another thing is that, to balance the scale, you bet on two stadiums outside the two teams.

Although that is not contemplated in the regulations.

Since countries like Belgium, France, Portugal or Germany were ruled out due to the limitations that they also maintain with the British country and that the Italian stadiums prepared were not free on the dates of the match, the unknown was cleared.

The Romanian venue was from the beginning the one that most liked in the athletic entity.

For the memories (he won the Europa League 2012) and for the facilities, since it is a top-class UEFA stadium and it even has a retractable roof, which opens and closes in just 15 minutes.

Well there, more than 3,000 kilometers from the Metropolitan, Atlético will return to action in the second round.

On the grass of one of the venues of the Eurocup.

Simeone's first title

There Simeone won his first title with Atlético.

It was nine years ago (2012), when they defeated Athletic (3-0) in the final of the Europa League, with a double from

Falcao

and a third from

Diego Ribas

.

Life has changed, and a lot, for the rojiblanco team, turned into one of the coconuts of the continent and one of the fixtures of the Champions League since 2013.

Atlético's is the third Champions League match that has been moved from headquarters due to the restrictions of the pandemic.

Leipzig-Liverpool next Tuesday (16) and Gladbach-City the following week (24) will be played in Budapest.

In the Europa League, Real Sociedad-Man.

United, will be held at the Juventus Stadium, for the same reasons as in the case of Atlético.

In addition,

Benfica-Arsenal

moved to Rome and

Molde-Hoffenheim

, to the Estadio de La Cerámica in Villarreal, due to restrictions imposed by the Norwegian government.

All on February 18.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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