UEFA has informed the eight teams that are still pending the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 that they are studying the possibility of playing them in a single venue. UEFA wants matches Manchester-Real Madrid, Barcelona-Naples, Juventus-Lyon and Bayern Munich-Chelsea they are not played in the stadiums of the teams named first, as it would correspond, but they are played in a single venue, as the rest of the competition will be resolved once the quarterfinals are closed. Real Madrid has been consulted and has shown its availability. It will be adapted to what UEFA determines. Barça, even if it is behind closed doors, prefers to host Napoli at the Camp Nou.
According to AS, and as this newspaper has confirmed in sources of maximum solvency, the organizers are working on the idea of a format by direct elimination that allows the Champions to finish between August 8 and 23, with 11 matches including the final. They want to concentrate them all, also those of return of eighth, in a unique seat. Lisbon is in advantage because it offers better fiscal conditions than its competitors, sufficient hotel infrastructures, two very close five-star stadiums and good control of the pandemic, the most important thing.
But UEFA’s plan collides with several drawbacks. Although their main argument is that the ‘field factor’ will be canceled when played behind closed doors, Manchester City, Barça, Juventus and Bayern insist on playing in their respective stadiums. But still, they are not guaranteed, because the UEFA has the right to change the format due to force majeure and could force them to play the round of 16 round at that unique venue to avoid the risk of outbreaks and contagions due to the travel of the teams across the continent.
As this newspaper advanced yesterday, the UEFA draft contemplates that the four matches that remain to be disputed in the round of 16 will be played on the weekend of August 8, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. After 48 hours, the eight teams qualified for the quarterfinals will begin the knockout series in the same city. There will be seven matches to all or nothing until reaching the final, which will take place on Sunday, August 23.
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