CHAMPIONS RETURN

Ordinarily, both the Europa League and Champions League would have wrapped up in late May and early June but, of course, 2020 has not been an ordinary year. COVID-19 postponed the tournaments for three months, and meant an overhaul was needed to get the competitions completed.

UEFA announced that the quarter-final matches of both tournaments would become single-legged affairs, played in neutral venues. Accordingly, the Champions League ties are scheduled to be staged in Lisbon, between August 12 and 23. However, before the final eight can get underway there is the matter of four Round of 16 second legs to take care of first. Manchester City will take a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid back to the Etihad Stadium, while Chelsea travel to Bayern Munich trailing by three goals. Napoli go to Camp Nou after a 1-1 draw at home with Barcelona, and Lyon will be out to build on a shock 1-0 win over Juventus when they go to Turin. These games are all due to be played on August 7 and 8, days before the mini-tournament in Portugal gets underway. The final will be hosted at Benfica’s Estadio de Luz, instead of the