The authorities of European football finally found the solution.

The round of 16 between Leipzig and Liverpool will be relocated to Budapest, UEFA said Sunday (February 7th), with Germany banning entry to its territory to travelers coming from an area where the Covid-19 pandemic is particularly active , like the UK.

"UEFA can confirm that the knockout round of the Champions League between Leipzig and Liverpool will take place at the Puskas Arena in Budapest," wrote the European Confederation in its statement, specifying that the match will take place as scheduled on Tuesday February 16 at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. GMT).

The second leg will take place at Liverpool's stadium, Anfield, on March 10.

Germany has banned airlines from transporting people from areas affected by Covid-19 mutations to German territory, except German citizens or people residing in Germany.

This regulation runs until at least February 17 and primarily concerns the United Kingdom where a variant of the coronavirus, estimated to be much more contagious, is highly developed.

No exemption for professional athletes

Exceptions exist for medical emergencies but not for top-level sport, although Leipzig had requested an exemption for this game.

If the measure was extended beyond February 17, another C1 duel between a German club and an English club could be concerned: Manchester City must move on February 24 to Mönchengladbach.

Mönchengladbach has already made it known that he has made a request to Danish club FC Midtjylland to organize this round of 16 first leg at his stadium.

Last year, UEFA had to review the formula of the Champions League, with the elimination of direct elimination round-trip matches due to the pandemic.

It had for the first time established a final tournament bringing together in Portugal the last eight teams in contention, with quarters and halves in a single match, before the final, won by Bayern Munich against Paris SG (1-0).

With AFP

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