UEFA is working on a plan to complete the Champions League and Europa League seasons. The restart can probably only take place in early August, which means that the campaigns have to be shortened considerably.
Four of the eight Champions League diptychs in the eighth finals have yet to be decided: Olympique Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas recently announced that his club will play Juventus on Friday, August 7 – the first game was already played on February 26. The Europa League has also progressed to the last sixteen. According to Marca, the tournament will resume from August 2 and there will be no return games in either tournament.
The Spanish sports newspaper believes that UEFA currently prefers a competition model with a ‘final four’. The four semi-finalists will meet in the final city of Istanbul in late August to determine who will be the overall winner and the final battle is scheduled for August 26. The Europa League final in Gdansk is due to finish on August 23 and is likely to be decided in the same way.
UEFA hopes to present its final plan on June 17, reports Marca. Tournament rights holders could put a stop to the proposed competition model, as they may broadcast fewer matches than contractually stipulated.
–
