UEFA is “confident”
the final stages of the Champions League and Europa League will go ahead
without problems despite recent cases of coronavirus at Real Madrid and
Sevilla, a spokesperson told AFP on Thursday.
Real, who announced
on Tuesday that forward Mariano Diaz had tested positive for COVID-19, play at
Manchester City in their Champions League last-16 second leg on August 7.
Sevilla, who said
Wednesday an unnamed player had contracted the virus, take on Roma in a
single-game Europa League last-16 tie in the German city of Duisburg the
previous day.
“We are confident
these cases will not affect the matches in question, in Manchester and Duisburg
respectively,” the spokesperson said.
“UEFA is in contact
with Real Madrid and Sevilla FC and is monitoring the two situations and the
decisions of the competent Spanish authorities.”
The Champions
League is ending with a ‘Final 8’ tournament in Lisbon after the completion of
the last 16.
Man City lead
Madrid 2-1 after the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, which was played in
February.
Sevilla have halted
training as a precaution, but Spanish champions Real are preparing as usual
because Mariano has had no recent contact with his teammates.