Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Champions League, UEFA
Alex Brotherton
Arsenal will have a distinct advantage when they take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Mikel Arteta's side will welcome the German giants to the Emirates Stadium for the first leg of the last-eight tie, while fellow Premier League title hopefuls and current champions of Europe Manchester City will take on Real Madrid in Spain.
On Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain will host Barcelona while Atletico Madrid will take on Borussia Dortmund after eliminating Inter Milan in dramatic circumstances last month.
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Arsenal haven't appeared in the quarter-finals of the Champions League since 2010, and they face a tough task, even if Bayern's Bundesliga campaign has unraveled.
That said, Arteta knows his team have a unique opportunity to make home field advantage really count before the return leg in Germany next week.
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That's because UEFA have banned away supporters from attending the first leg in London.
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The ban was issued after a small group of Bayern supporters threw fireworks onto the pitch during their side's 3-1 win against Lazio last month.
Back in October 2023, Bayern were fined €40,000 after travelling fans set off fireworks during their 2-1 win at FC Copenhagen. The recent incident at Lazio triggered the ban.
Having breached the terms of their probation by repeating the offence, Bayern said they would not appeal UEFA's decision.
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"We have to accept this punishment. Not only were pyrotechnics set off, but also fired deliberately on to the field, directly endangering bystanders," Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said.
"This was such an explicit violation of the conditions of probation that an appeal is unfortunately futile."
He added: "In general we're very happy that we're in the quarter-finals, but the fact we now have to play away without the support of our fans is a big blow.
"A small group of individual offenders have done a disservice to all our supporters and the team. However, I am confident that our team will find a way to deliver the top performance that will be needed in the quarter-finals."
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Arsenal will fill the Emirates away end with home supporters, before travelling to Munich for the second leg on Wednesday April 17.
Should also eliminate Bayern, then they will face either Real Madrid or Manchester City in the semi-finals.
Fans can watch tonight’s game on Discovery+ by signing up to a free trial of Amazon Prime.