The Champions League and Europa League for the 2019-20 season will be finished at any cost but as per La Stampa, there could be some significant changes to this year’s format.
As per the news, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has spoken to the members of the ECA during which they have discussed some changes to the current format, including finishing the two competitions in a knockout style format.
The report claims: “Many unknowns, but only one certainty: the Champions League will be awarded, whatever the cost.
“The hiccup restart of European football complicates UEFA’s plans for the most important cup and for the Europa League, but now a secure plan is coming up to close the tournaments.
“Yesterday the body chaired by Ceferin met with Eca, the association of European clubs led by Andrea Agnelli, to find a first understanding on dates and formulas.”
When will the Champions League resume?
A couple of weeks ago, Ceferin had said that the remaining matches for both the tournaments will have to be finished before September.
“We can’t play it out in September or October,” Ceferin had told ZDF Sport studio, as quoted by BBC.
“If the authorities do not allow us to play, then we cannot play. We are waiting for the development of this terrible situation in the world, and mainly in Europe. It is still better to play the game behind closed doors and have it on TV, which is what the people need and want because it brings positive energy to their homes than not playing at all.”
And as per the latest updates, UEFA are still sticking to this timeline as they intend to wrap up the Champions League and the Europa League in August.
Champions League & Europa League in neutral venues?
Some matches in the round of 16 are still to be played and as per the report, these games will be played as per the normal home and away format but inside empty stadiums.
But from the next round, UEFA are looking to try and shift the matches to neutral venues.
The Champions League semi-finals and final are all scheduled to be held in Istanbul, Turkey while the Europa League final stages could all be played in Gdansk, Poland.
Knockout style finish to the season?
There’s also a possibility that after the Round of 16 for both the European tournaments, UEFA could choose to scrap the two-legged style matches meaning each round will be decided in knockout fashion.
Nothing has been finalised yet and as per the rumours, the official news will be given on June 17.
