Premier League under pressure to break historic 3pm blackout as Eurovision Song Contest creates fixture nightmare
MANCHESTER CITY have faced a tough opponent in the forthcoming fixture list — the Eurovision Song Contest.
It was announced last week that City’s Prem match against Leeds will be shown on TV in the UK, despite being moved to 3pm on a Saturday.
The fixture was scheduled for Sunday, May 7 but has been brought forward by a day because of City’s Champions League semi-final trip to holders Real Madrid on May 9.
However, we can reveal that, initially, Uefa wanted the first leg of Real Madrid v City to be played on May 10, meaning the game at the Etihad was to be staged on Tuesday, May 16.
This meant moving Everton v City back from Sunday, May 14 to the Saturday — to give a three-day gap.
But Merseyside Police refused to sanction the game being staged on the Saturday, because it clashes with the Eurovision Song Contest in the city.
As a result, Uefa switched around the semi-final dates — and that is why the game with Leeds was impacted.
City host Arsenal on Wednesday hoping to take a commanding position in the Prem title race.
Pep Guardiola’s side currently trail Arsenal by five points, albeit with two games in hand.
Should they beat the Gunners they will move to within two points of Arteta’s high-flyers with a pair of extra matches to play.
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Ahead of the crunch clash, Guardiola said: “It’s an important game, we can get points and our biggest opponent cannot.
“But we have to focus on what we have to do.
“We’ve played two times this season and in the FA Cup and there (away at Arsenal in the league) they were really tight games and really difficult.
“When you play against these teams they can control everything.
“I’ve said from a long time ago with Arsenal when with Arsene Wenger they always have the incredible details and care of the ball and who they select to play with the biggest quality and biggest skills.
“But Mikel has brought a new dimension. They are huge competitors in all senses, so aggressive.”