Leicester City Football Club are set to take on AS Roma this evening – in what will be their first ever European semi-final.
Motorists and bus users are advised to expect delays to their journeys this evening (Thursday, April 28), as the two teams face off in the Europa Conference League semi-final.
A multi-agency policing operation has been put in place to ensure that visiting fans can get to the King Power stadium safely, with a series of rolling road closures in place from around 6pm this evening, to allow 1,700 Roma fans to make their way to the stadium on foot.
Ahead of the match, the away fans gathered at the city’s Queen of Bradgate pub, with one spirited fan predicting tonight’s score to be 3-0 to Roma.
“We hope it’ll be a beautiful match, but we hope also to make it difficult. It’s an important game for both teams”, he added”.
“I’m superstitious so I don’t want to say anything, but I hope that Roma could play well”, another fan told the Leicester Times.
“Leicester City is a very good team, and who know them by Claudio Ranieri, who was the trainer of Leicester and you won the premiere league some years ago, so… You have some very good players like Vardy… This is a good competition for the semi-final, and I hope that Roma could go to the final”.
Tonight’s match, which kicks off at 8pm, is the first leg of Leicester City’s Europa Conference League semi-final against José Mourinho’s side. The second leg will be played in Rome at 8pm next Thursday (5 May).
Commenting on the rolling road closures which will be put in place, City Highways Director Martin Fletcher said: “We’ll be supporting the policing operation on match-day and we’re advising people to allow extra time for their journey.
“Whether you’re on your way home from work, or you’re on your way to the match, please expect some disruption to your journey and set off in good time”, he added.
“Peacock Lane and the Southgates slip road towards Newarke Street will be closed from 6pm for around half an hour, and we’re expecting the rolling road closures to have particular impact on the inner ring road around Southgates underpass and its slip roads from about 6.15pm-6.30pm, with delays likely around the Swan Bridge area at about 7pm.
“This is a huge game for Leicester City, and we wish them all the best for their semi-final.”
Roads along the route will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.
For up-to-date traffic information in Leicester, follow the city’s Area Traffic Control team on Twitter at @ATCLeicester.
