Madrid battle Lisbon for the right to hold the Champions League final

Where will the 2019-20 Champions League final be staged?

When UEFA’s executive committee meet on June 17, they have some major decisions to finalise regarding this seasons European competitions.

UEFA still need to determine how finish this season’s Champions League and Europa League.

Aside from scaling back the amount of games remaining in each competition, UEFA also seem set to relocate the Champions League final.

The Champions League final was supposed to be held in Istanbul, Turkey.

However, the New York Times recently revealed that Turkey are unable to fulfill this obligation due to their issues controlling the coronavirus. Readers have bene told:

The Champions League final, one of sport’s most-watched annual events, will not be held at its planned site, Istanbul, amid the ongoing crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

 

Champions League final: Madrid battle Lisbon

In recent days, speculation had mounted that Lisbon, Portugal, would be selected to host the Champions League final.

German paper Bild claimed that Lisbon had been selected for a couple of main reasons: 1) Portugal have recorded low Covid-19 cases compared to many other European countries and 2) there are no teams from Portugal left in the Champions League.

However, as confirmed by the Guardian on Tuesday, Madrid are looking to stage the Champions League final as well.

Of course, Spain have suffered one of the highest amounts of deaths from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nevertheless, Madrid’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, has now pitched his city’s bid to host the Champions League final:

I know arrangements are being made and I want to declare the city hall’s absolute support for this Champions League final being held in Madrid.

We have the adequate safety conditions, we have the infrastructure and public services to hold it and it would send a message to the world that, despite all the drama we have lived, Madrid isn’t giving up and is on the rise again. 

Both Madrid clubs are still in this season’s Champions League.

Atletico are through to the quarter-finals after knocking out Liverpool.

Real are still in the competition, however they lost their last-16 first-leg at home against Man City, 2-1.

 

Also see: Jurgen Klopp explains why Liverpool can’t afford Timo Werner & when Chelsea can expect the transfer to be finalised.

Man United may sign Real Madrid target Donny van de Beek & what happened when Paul Pogba faced off against Bruno Fernandes.

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