Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming Premier League clash at Aston Villa has been rescheduled for 16 May, two days earlier than originally planned. The North London side made the request to shift the date in order to allow more time to prepare in the event they reach the Europa League final, which is set for 21 May.
The fixture was originally listed for 18 May at 14:15 BST. However, Tottenham approached the league to bring the match forward, citing the need for extended preparation time for a potential appearance in the European showpiece under head coach Ange Postecoglou.
Possible final against Manchester United
Spurs currently lead Bodo/Glimt 3-1 after the first leg of their semi-final. Should they progress, they may face Manchester United, who hold a 3-0 advantage over Athletic Bilbao. Both second legs are scheduled for Thursday.
The decision to reschedule the Villa Park game remains in place regardless of whether Tottenham advances to the final in Bilbao.
Aston Villa voices concern over timing
Aston Villa raised concerns about the timing change, arguing that there is no prior instance of the Premier League altering fixtures to accommodate European campaigns. The club also noted they have played at regular intervals of three to four days in recent weeks due to involvement in both the Champions League and FA Cup.
Further objection came due to the fact that this match is Villa’s final home fixture of the season, which was set to include various family-focused activities. These events would be disrupted by the rescheduling to a midweek evening, which may affect attendance, especially for families with school-aged children.
Tottenham initially suggested moving the match to 15 May in the evening, but the league ultimately confirmed a kickoff of 19:30 BST on 16 May. On the same evening, Manchester United’s game against Chelsea will begin at 20:15 BST, ensuring both European semi-finalists – if they progress – receive equal rest before the final.
