UEFA’s plan to wrap up the Champions League with a last-eight mini tournament in Lisbon is expected to be agreed by executives… with the World Cup-style finals set to be held across 11 days from August 12
- The Champions League is expected to be completed in Lisbon across 11 days
- UEFA are set to agree on a plan to stage the World Cup-style tournament
- Ties to be played at Benfica’s Estadio Da Luz and Sporting Lisbon’s Jose Alvalade
- The mini tournament will take place from August 12 and end on August 23
UEFA are set to complete the Champions League with a ‘Final Eight’ tournament held over 11 days in Lisbon, according to a plan which will be presented to their executive committee for ratification on Wednesday.
A source with knowledge of discussions between clubs and European soccer’s governing body told Reuters that the proposal is expected to be agreed upon after a consensus was reached on Monday.
UEFA did not respond to a request for comment.
UEFA officials are set to agree on a plan to finish off the Champions League in August with a mini tournament in Lisbon
Under the plan the competition, which was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, will resume with the second-leg of remaining last 16 games played at the scheduled venues.
The single leg quarter-final games will be played in Lisbon on four straight days from August 12-15.
The semi-finals will take place on August 18 and 19 and the final on August 23 in the Portuguese capital.
The plan allows for a quicker completion of the season than the traditional two-legged home and away format but does mean the competition will have six fewer games which will cost UEFA broadcast revenue.
Benfica’s Estadio da Luz is one of the likely venues that will host Champions League games
The games are likely to be shared between Lisbon’s two major stadiums – Benfica’s Estadio da Luz and Sporting Lisbon’s Jose Alvalade stadium.
Organisers are proceeding on the basis that matches will be played behind closed-doors but UEFA is understood to have left the door open for possible changes should public health conditions in Portugal allow.
The teams already qualified for the quarter-finals are France’s Paris St Germain, Italy’s Atalanta, Spain’s Atletico Madrid and Germany’s RB Leipzig.
The remaining last 16 second-leg fixtures are Manchester City’s home leg against Real Madrid, Chelsea’s trip to Bayern Munich, Juventus’s home game against Olympique Lyonnais and Napoli’s visit to Barcelona.
Barcelona are still in the hunt for Europe’s biggest prize ahead of second leg against Napoli
Manchester City put themselves in a great position as they beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg
Istanbul was due to host the 2020 final but will now, instead be the venue for the 2021 edition, with all other scheduled hosts moving back a year.
A similar format will be used to decide the Europa League competition at German venues from August 10.
The remaining last 16 games will be held at neutral venues in Germany with the ‘Final Eight’ held in Duisburg, Duesseldorf, Gelsenkirchen and Cologne.
Manchester United, AS Roma and Inter Milan are among the teams still involved in the Europa League.
The traditional opener to the European season, the UEFA Super Cup, is expected to be held in Budapest on September 24.