Why Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid can't use their usual stadiums in the Champions League league phase
Quick summary
BBC Sport explainer detailing the UEFA Champions League rules preventing Athletic Bilbao from using San Mamés and Real Madrid from using the Bernabéu in the new league-phase format.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceOur Ask Me Anything team explains why Liverpool are not allowed to host Real Madrid in the Champions League's league phase
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What happened
The article explains the UEFA regulations behind stadium allocation in the revamped 36-team Champions League league phase. Athletic Bilbao, despite qualifying through their La Liga finish, cannot stage matches at their iconic San Mamés home because the stadium does not meet UEFA's minimum capacity and infrastructure requirements for the competition. Real Madrid's situation is different — works to the Santiago Bernabéu have forced temporary relocation for some European nights. The piece uses the question of Liverpool's Anfield as a framing device to walk readers through the full set of eligibility, safety and capacity criteria UEFA applies when approving venues.