COVID travel restrictions cause UEFA to move UCL and UEL matches

As the knockout stages of this season’s UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League are set to commence, UEFA announced on Tuesday their decision to move a number of Champions League and Europa League fixtures to neutral venues due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions in place in some countries.

In the UEFA Champions League, Liverpool’s Round of 16 first leg away fixture at RB Leipzig will now be played at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary on the 16th of February 2021. Also, Chelsea would not be traveling to the Wanda Metropolitano to take on Atletico Madrid as the first leg of the tie has been moved to the Arena Nationala in Bucharest, Romania. It would take place on the 23rd of February. Manchester City would also play their first leg away fixture against Borussia Monchengladbach at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary on the 24th of February. The second leg games are to be held in the clubs’ home ground as usual.

In the Europa League, Molde’s home first leg Round of 32 clash against Hoffenheim has been moved to Villarreal in Spain, and will take place on February 18th. Manchester United travel to Turin in Italy where they will play the away leg of their Round of 32 tie against Spanish side, Real Sociedad. Arsenal also travel to Rome in Italy for the away leg of their Round of 32 tie against Portuguese giants, Benfica. The second leg games are to hold in the normal home grounds, as usual.