The four UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg ties postponed because of COVID-19 in March will be played next month, European football governing body UEFA said on Thursday.
The matches will however be played in the stadiums of the home teams, providing travelling is possible without restrictions.
UEFA added in a statement that the same arrangements would apply to the outstanding second leg matches in the Europa League round of 16 ties.
It also said that all matches in European club competition would be played without spectators until further notice, a measure it described as prudent.
The UEFA Champions League ties still to be completed are Manchester City vs Real Madrid, Bayern Munich vs Chelsea, Juventus vs Olympique Lyonnais and FC Barcelona vs Napoli.
The matches are due to be played on Aug. 7 and Aug. 8.
Manchester City lead Real Madrid 2-1, Bayern Munich are 3-0 up against Chelsea, Juventus trail Lyon 1-0 while FC Barcelona and Napoli are level at 1-1.
UEFA said the decision on the fixture arrangements was “consistent with the principle of sporting fairness”.
It added that it also took into account the fact that all four home teams are currently playing domestic matches in their own stadiums.
However, UEFA stated it would monitor the situation and move matches to Portugal if “new events occur that would make it impossible to play one or more matches at the original venues.”
The final stages of the UEFA Champions League, from the quarter-finals onwards, will be played as a mini-tournament in Portugal and the Europa League in Germany.
The draws were made on Friday, and all those matches will be over one leg.
UEFA confirmed that the two Europa League ties where the first leg did not take place would be played over a single leg in Germany.
These are: Inter Milan vs Getafe and Sevilla vs AS Roma.
UEFA said it would be mandatory for all participating teams to follow its health protocol which sets out sanitary and hygiene-related procedures at all matches it organises.(Reuters/NAN)
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