UEFA Champions League 2019/20

[Adam]

16 minutes ago, Baddar said:

The other issue that I hadn't thought about with getting these leagues played out in the summer, is that a lot of players will have contracts finishing at the start of June. 

Contracts usually run to the end of June, I believe.

Regardless, I feel if this ends up being a universal measure to move the end of the season into June/July, surely something could be worked out with temporary extensions or things.

Providing the world can get this whole thing under control in the next month or so, I think this would be the best option. The Euros are not any lesser for being a year later. We can live without the Nations League or Club World Cup that year. If the next few seasons are held at slightly off times as a knock-on, it's no big deal. These seasons need to be finished for sporting integrity in my opinion, if that has to be done in a few months then so be it.

[Baddar]

All games next week postponed.

[Lineker]

Quote

Manchester City’s appeal against their two-year Uefa ban from European football is up in the air as the court of arbitration for sport (Cas) in Switzerland deals with the impact of the coronavirus.

City had hoped for a hearing by early summer but that now looks unrealistic given the court in Lausanne has already postponed three hearings and has 16 cases already scheduled until 18 May, with the City case not yet listed.

Cas Secretary General Matthieu Reeb told Reuters that the court was already making adjustments and was “monitoring the situation closely and continually adapting to the changing circumstances”.

“In-person hearings are still being conducted, where the participants agree to do so,” he added in an email statement.

“When participants are located in high-risk regions, we are offering the possibility of using video or phone links or postponing to a later date.“

Reeb said that parties in cases are also able to request that a decision be made “solely on the basis of the written submissions, without a hearing being held”.

City were banned by Uefa on 14 February and fined €30million for “serious breaches” of European football’s break-even regulations known as Financial Fair Play (FFP).

The club, who have denied wrongdoing, appealed the decision and last month the CEO Ferran Soriano said they wanted “an early resolution” and that the “best hope is that this will be finished before the beginning of the summer”.

The ruling, if upheld, would mean City would not be able to compete in the 2020-21 Champions League should they again qualify for Europe’s top club competition. They would also be banned from European competition in the 2021-22 season.

But the qualification process for the Champions League - along with every aspect of professional football - is also clouded by the coronavirus situation, with domestic leagues across the continent having suspended play.

Uefa is holding a video conference on Tuesday of all its member associations and league, club and player representatives to decide how to progress with this season and to discuss a possible postponement of Euro 2020.

“For the moment, there has been no significant impact on our operations but we will continue to be vigilant. Only three hearings have been postponed so far,” Reeb added.

[Szumi]

Champions League, Europa League, and EURO Playoffs suspended indefinitely. No real surprise here.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-champions-league/story/4081328/uefa-suspends-champions-league-europa-league-and-euro-2020-qualifying-playoffs-indefinitely

[Lineker]

Quote

Lisbon appears to be the favourite to host the final stages of the Champions League. The Portuguese capital is understood to be in contention to stage a condensed version of the tournament, with ties played as single legs as Uefa seeks a solution for completing the competition amid the coronavirus pandemic.

How the four outstanding last-16 matches should be completed remains open to discussion. Manchester City are due to play a second leg at home to Real Madrid, leading 2-1. Chelsea are 3-0 down from the home first leg against Bayern Munich, while Juventus are due to host Lyon, who won the first leg 1-0, and Barcelona to host Napoli at 1-1.

Those matches may be added to the fixture list for Lisbon, which seems set to take over from Istanbul as the venue for the final. Lisbon has two major stadiums in close proximity: Estádio da Luz and Estádio José Alvalade. It is understood other stadiums in the country, such as Porto’s, could also be used.

Istanbul may be compensated with a future Champions League final, if Uefa’s executive committee decides on Wednesday that Lisbon is the best option. The final could take place on Sunday 23 August, with games condensed into 10 days.

As things stand all the matches would be behind closed doors, but if the Portuguese government were to alter its guidance in time for ticketing to be organised there is the possibility of some supporters being able to attend.

A city in Germany – possibly Frankfurt or Düsseldorf – could host the final stages of the Europa League. The final was due in Gdansk.

The Women’s Champions League may follow a similar pattern, with reports in Spain suggesting the final games could be split between the Basque cities of Bilbao and San Sebastian.

Uefa is understood to be targeting a mid-October start for the group stage of the 2020-21 Champions League, traditionally when matchday three would be. How the qualifying rounds take place is a complex problem, with many leagues likely ongoing when the preliminaries are usually scheduled.

[Baddar]

They're doing mini 8 team tournaments to complete this season's CL and EL in Germany and Portugal in one off ties.

[stokeriño]

Man, those first 10 minutes before Bayern stick a 4th past us will be magical.

[DavidMarrio]

11 minutes ago, Baddar said:

They're doing mini 8 team tournaments to complete this season's CL and EL in Germany and Portugal in one off ties.

NULL AND VOID. 

ASTERIX NEXT TO THE WINNER 

[gunnar hendershow]

16 minutes ago, Baddar said:

They're doing mini 8 team tournaments to complete this season's CL and EL in Germany and Portugal in one off ties.

Single-elimination European Cup at long last.

[Baddar]

2 minutes ago, DavidMarrio said:

NULL AND VOID. 

ASTERIX NEXT TO THE WINNER 

It comes down to money, but seriously, the "null and void" argument makes more sense in these knockout competitions where the outcomes aren't yet decided than it does for the incomplete league seasons.

But teams definitely deserve a chance to get that European revenue for making the QF/Semi's/Final.

The Group stages for 20/21 will start in October and end in December.

[Benjamin]

19 minutes ago, DavidMarrio said:

NULL AND VOID. 

ASTERIX NEXT TO THE WINNER 

Any CL games that happened after the 12th of March do not exist for me 

[stokeriño]

24 minutes ago, DavidMarrio said:

NULL AND VOID. 

ASTERIX NEXT TO THE WINNER 

[Colly]

27 minutes ago, Baddar said:

It comes down to money, but seriously, the "null and void" argument makes more sense in these knockout competitions where the outcomes aren't yet decided than it does for the incomplete league seasons.

Null and void and everyone gets an Intertoto style plaque. Do the same in the FA Cup. Jobs a good un. 

[DavidMarrio]

On one hand it's like least there won't be any away goals rule and it should open up games a bit more.

[gunnar hendershow]

Plus, PSG can't blow any 2nd legs this time around.

[The Lusophone]

1 hour ago, damsher hatfield said:

Plus, PSG can't blow any 2nd legs this time around.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

[gunnar hendershow]

https://sports.yahoo.com/cavani-leave-psg-champions-league-last-eight-175357396--sow.html

I am curious if this will happen with any other clubs before August.

[Cymbols]

8 minutes ago, damsher hatfield said:

https://sports.yahoo.com/cavani-leave-psg-champions-league-last-eight-175357396--sow.html

I am curious if this will happen with any other clubs before August.

Timo Werner won’t be playing any further part in RB Leipzig’s campaign. With Poulsen and Wolf injured too, and Schick’s loan coming to an end, it leaves them in a tricky spot.

[Lineker]

The draws for the quarters and semis are at 1100 BST this morning. 

[gunnar hendershow]

Not sure why the official draw from UEFA doesn't break out the semifinals properly. It's Atalanta/PSG vs Leipzig/Atletico in one half but their image doesn't reflect that.

Anyway, PSG got an incredibly favorable draw. I'll be pulling hard for Atalanta though. They certainly have at the least a shot at the finals given that the 4 best sides are all on the other half of the draw and PSG always blow it in Europe and are also having some players skip out on playing past their contract end dates. Would be something else if Atalanta can make it all the way there. Atletico are a tough out, and Leipzig would be were Werner playing for them. They have to feel hard done by then, the draw gave them a reasonable path but they probably won't make it anywhere without Werner.

Barcelona-Bayern and City/Real-Juventus quarterfinals matchups are on the table and that needless to say is quite exciting from a neutral perpsective.