Triple hunter Hansi Flick dreams of duels with the “really big”, outsider Julian Nagelsmann senses a “huge chance” – and the dethroned “king” Jürgen Klopp watches with envy. “I’m going to take a look at this,” said Liverpool team manager Klopp about the historically unique mini-tournament of the Champions League in Lisbon, which will be drawn on Friday (12:00 p.m. / Sky) at Uefa’s headquarters in Nyon.
He sees Manchester City – and Flicks Bayern – as “the two big title contenders” and possible heirs. “ManCity is a team that has absolutely quality,” said Flick, who, with FC Nimmersatt, is aiming for the second triple after 2013 at the final in August after the 13th double. However, he emphasized in view of the stiff competition, “Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juve are also very good. If you want to be in the final, you have to play against the really, really big ones. ”
What’s up?
The quarter-finals and semi-finals for the mini-tournaments in Champions (12:00 p.m.) and Europa League (1:00 p.m.) will be drawn on Friday at the headquarters of the European Football Union (UEFA) in Nyon, Switzerland. In the premier class there are two Bundesliga clubs with triple hunters Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, in the previous Uefa Cup with cup finalists Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg even three.
Where the remaining round of 16 second leg Bayern Munich – Chelsea (first leg 3-0), Manchester City – Real Madrid (2-1), Shakhtar Donetsk – VfL Wolfsburg (2-1), FC Basel – Eintracht Frankfurt (3-0 ) and Bayer Leverkusen – Glasgow Rangers (3-1) in the first week of August, the European Football Union Uefa has yet to decide. At the actual place of the second leg? Or already at the location of the respective final tournament, which in the case of the Champions League begins on August 12th and in the case of the Europa League on August 10th with the first quarterfinals?
For Uefa, this is a question of risk assessment, whether they want to let a team fly to England or Ukraine in times of the pandemic and then possibly just a few days later to Portugal or North Rhine-Westphalia. “Since the final tournament takes place in West Germany, one or the other game to be played before it should also take place there. That would be a conclusive solution, ”said Wolfsburg sports director Jörg Schmadtke using the example of the Europa League. “In any case, I don’t think it would be advisable to travel to Ukraine at the moment.”
How does the draw work?
There are three draws each: for the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and the “home team” in the final. There is no seed list and no so-called country protection – this means that there can also be duels between teams from the same national association as between Bayern and Leipzig or Leverkusen and Wolfsburg.
Who’s in the lottery pots?
Champions League: In addition to Leipzig, Paris St. Germain, Atletico Madrid and Atalanta Bergamo have already qualified for the quarter-finals. In four round of 16 the second legs are still on: Bayern have to play against Chelsea again (first leg 3-0), Manchester City against Real Madrid (2-1), FC Barcelona against SSC Napoli (1-1) and Juventus against Olympique Lyon (0-1).
Europa League: Leverkusen are 3-1 in the first leg of the Glasgow Rangers with one leg in the quarter-finals. Wolfsburg lost to Shakhtar Donetsk (1: 2), and Frankfurt are threatened with the home defeat against FC Basel (0: 3). Manchester United (5-0 against LASK) are almost certain to come through, plus the winners from FC Copenhagen against Istanbul Basaksehir (0-1), Wolverhampton Wanderers against Olympiacos Piraeus (1-1), Inter Milan against FC Getafe and FC Sevilla against AS Roma (both without first leg).
Where to play
Champions League: Quarter, half and final will be played as a knockout tournament in Lisbon, probably without spectators. All duels are decided in a single game. The venues are Benfica’s Estadio do Sport Lisboa and Benfica, where the final will also take place, and Sporting’s Estadio Jose Alvalade. The Estadio do Dragao in Porto and the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques in Guimaraes are under discussion for the remaining round of 16 second legs.
Europa League: Quarter, half and final are played as knockout tournaments in North Rhine-Westphalia, probably without spectators. All duels are decided in a single game. Venues are the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne (final venue), the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena in Duisburg, Düsseldorf’s Merkur Spiel-Arena and Schalkes Veltins-Arena. Where the round of 16 (one game) takes place is open.
When do you play?
Champions League: The round of 16 second legs are for the 7th / 8th Scheduled for August, the quarterfinals for August 12-15, the semi-finals for August 18/19, the final for August 23. All games will kick off at 9:00 p.m. (CEST).
Europa League: The round of 16 will take place on the 5th / 6th August (18.55 / 21.00), the quarterfinals on 10-11.8., The semi-finals on 16./17.8. and the final on August 21. (every 9 p.m. CEST).
What’s new?
The clubs can register a maximum of three new players, provided they have been eligible to play nationally since February 3. As last time in the Bundesliga, coaches can make five substitutions at three points in time, an additional exchange is allowed in extra time. Instead of 18, 23 players are allowed to the game report (previously only possible in the final).
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