SM
Watford vs. Oxford Utd: 7 hrs 9 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
MC
Champions League | Round of 16
Aug 7, 2020 at 8pm UK
Etihad Stadium
RM

Man City
2 - 1
Real Madrid

Sterling (9'), Jesus (68')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Benzema (28')
Modric (81')

Manchester City given green light to host Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium

:Headline: Manchester City given green light to host Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium: ID:405828: from db_amp
Real will travel to Manchester for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

UEFA has given the green light for Manchester City’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid to be played behind closed doors at the Etihad Stadium.

The UEFA Executive Committee has decided that all remaining second-leg matches in that competition and the Europa League will be played at the home team’s stadium.

That applies where clubs are “currently playing the remaining matches of their domestic leagues in their own stadiums and that travelling is possible without restrictions for the visiting clubs”.

Pep Guardiola’s City will be breathing a large sigh of relief, with UEFA’s decision meaning they can step out on home turf having overcome Real Madrid 2-1 in February’s first leg at the Bernabeu.

Wolves will be able to play the return leg of their Europa League round-of-16 encounter with Olympiacos at Molineux after the first fixture ended 1-1, while Manchester United can wrap up progress at Old Trafford after romping to a 5-0 triumph against LASK in Austria.

The decision also means some British clubs will be hitting the road in August.

Chelsea head to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich trailing 3-0 in their Champions League round-of-16 tie, while Rangers also head to Germany to face Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League. Steven Gerrard’s men lost 3-1 at Ibrox.

Chelsea trail Bayern Munich 3-0 (Adam Davy/PA)

Inter Milan v Getafe and Sevilla v Roma both had their Europa League last-16 first legs postponed, so those ties will be completed as a single leg in Germany, where the final eight competition will be hosted next month.

The Champions League final eight will be held then in Portugal, with UEFA deciding no fans will be at any European matches for the remainder of the season.

A UEFA statement read: “On 17 June 2020, the UEFA Executive Committee decided to postpone the decision on whether the upcoming UEFA matches would be able to accommodate supporters or would have to be held behind closed doors, in order to monitor the evolution of the situation and the measures taken by local authorities on mass gatherings and attendance at sports events.

“In light of the current situation, the UEFA Executive Committee felt it prudent to conclude that UEFA matches should take place behind closed doors until further notice”
- UEFA

“Several elements were taken into account by UEFA when making a decision, such as the protection of the health of all those involved in the matches as well as the public at large; a responsibility to provide the safest environment for matches in order to guarantee the progress of competitions; as well as ensuring sporting fairness within a very inconsistent landscape (with some countries allowing and some forbidding stadium attendances).

“Consequently, in light of the current situation, the UEFA Executive Committee felt it prudent to conclude that UEFA matches should take place behind closed doors until further notice.

“This decision was made in agreement with the national associations and authorities of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League, 2019/20 UEFA Europa League and 2019/20 UEFA Women’s Champions League final eight tournaments’ hosts Portugal, Germany and Spain.

“This restriction will also apply to the remaining matches in the 2019/20 UEFA Youth League.”

UEFA confirmed the decision will apply to all such matches played over one leg, including the qualification phase of next season’s Champions League and Europa League, and pledged to “monitor the evolution of the situation and advise on any full or partial lifting of restrictions at the appropriate time”.

European football’s governing body has also approved a Return to Play Protocol, while it confirmed that video assistant referees’ implementation in the Europa League group stage will be postponed until the 2021-22 season given the impact of the Covid-19 situation.

amp_article__405828 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-07-09 17:54:04:
html db last update - 2020-07-09 17:54:04 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .