Manchester City left worried after Real Madrid’s Mariano Diaz tests positive for coronavirus ahead of Champions League clash… with fears lingering over the developing situation in Spain
Manchester City are concerned over their Champions League clash with Real Madrid after the Spanish club’s striker Mariano Diaz tested positive for coronavirus.
UEFA remain confident the second leg of the last-16 tie will go ahead at the Etihad a week on Friday.
But although City are satisfied for now that Diaz is an isolated case, they are wary of the 28 positive tests at Madrid’s neighbours Fuenlabrada last week and the UK Government’s decision to bring back a 14-day quarantine for travellers from Spain due to a rise in Covid cases there.
Mariano Diaz tested positive for coronavirus ahead of the match against Manchester City
Diaz returned from a short holiday after the LaLiga season finished and was tested on Monday
City, who lead 2-1 from the first leg in February, want the return game to be played but will continue to monitor the situation in Spain amid fears over a second wave of the virus.
Diaz tested positive on Monday morning when Real’s squad returned to training after a short break following the end of the La Liga season on July 19.
The 26-year-old player, who has made three appearances as a substitute since the restart, immediately went into isolation at home and was ruled out of the City game.
Madrid, who insist Diaz did not come into contact with any of his team-mates, have a protocol of testing their players every five days but that may now be increased.
City, who want the game to go ahead, will keep monitoring the coronavirus situation in Spain
A club statement read: ‘Mariano is in perfect health and complying with the sanitary isolation protocol at home.’
City have been alerted to the situation at Fuenlabrada, a second division club in the south of the Spanish capital, after their final game of the season against Deportivo La Coruna was postponed last week over a Covid outbreak among players and staff.
They have also noted the change in stance from the UK Government, now advising against all non-essential travel to Spain.
UEFA responded to the news on Diaz on Tuesday by saying they are ‘confident’ the game at the Etihad will go ahead.
The Etihad outfit hold a 2-1 advantage heading into the second-leg of the last-16 tie
