Series A
Why Sporting-Atalanta play on Wednesday night


Atalanta are able to battle it out with Sporting CP within the first leg of their Europa League Spherical of 16 tie, however why is the match being performed on a Wednesday and never the standard Thursday?
Gian Piero Gasperini’s aspect regarded robust of their Europa League group stage within the first half of the season, remaining undefeated as they completed high of Group D following wins over Rakow Czestochowa, Sturm Graz and Sporting, permitting them to bypass the knockout play-offs.
A lot to the frustration of followers and neutrals, on the Europa League knockout attract Nyon final month, Atalanta have been once more paired up with Sporting within the Spherical of 16, regardless of their two conferences within the group stage.
Calcio e Finanza defined why UEFA determined to interrupt conventional Europa League conference for the primary leg of the Spherical of 16 tie between Atalanta and Sporting, scheduling the match for a Wednesday evening as an alternative of the standard Thursday.
The reason being because of the difficult schedules of each golf equipment; Benfica host Rangers is the Portuguese capital on March 7, forcing UEFA to discover a answer on account of public order considerations.
Atalanta have had an extremely packed calendar in current weeks on account of Inter’s participation within the Supercoppa Italiana, which delayed their Serie A match from the twenty first matchday to February 28, leaving the Bergamo outfit to play 4 matches in simply 10 days.
The preliminary plan was for Sporting to host Atalanta on March 5, however because of the Bergamo outfit’s schedule, Wednesday was thought of the most effective answer.