Real Madrid Confirm Thibaut Courtois, Marcelo Injuries Before Manchester City
Mar 10, 2020
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 01: Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid CF in action during the Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 01, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Real Madrid have been dealt a double injury blow ahead of next week's UEFA Champions League last-16 second leg against Manchester City after they confirmed fitness problems for both Thibaut Courtois and Marcelo.
Per Real's official website, Courtois has suffered an injury to his left adductor muscle, and Marcelo has been diagnosed with a left hamstring issue.
For next Tuesday's visit to the Etihad Stadium, with Real trailing 2-1 to City, Ferland Mendy and Alphonse Areola would be the likely replacements, according to journalist Dermot Corrigan:
Courtois adductor muscle injury confirmed - Areola to play second leg at City next week https://t.co/NNI3Imn5zf
Marcelo and Courtois will be big losses for Real, particularly for the City game, as they both have experience of playing in high-profile European matches.
Los Blancos will need to put in one of their best performances of the season in Manchester if they are to turn the tie around and advance to the quarter-finals, and that will be a much tougher task without two of their key defensive players.
Before the second leg against the Sky Blues, Real host Eibar in La Liga on Friday.
Zinedine Zidane's side have won just one of their last four games in the Spanish top flight. Fortunately for the Madrid giants, that came against Barcelona in El Clasico, but Real still trail their rivals in the title race:
Zidane will now have to manage his squad astutely to ensure they can both bounce back against Eibar and get a positive result against City, otherwise their season could collapse in the space of a week.
That is a more challenging proposition without Courtois and Marcelo to call upon, but Areola and Mendy are both adequate back-ups.
Multiple Champions League Matches to Be Behind Closed Doors Due to Coronavirus
Mar 10, 2020
BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 27: General view inside the stadium as the sun sets ahead of the UEFA Champions League group F match between FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund at Camp Nou on November 27, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Barcelona have confirmed the second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie with Napoli on March 18 will be played behind closed doors at the Camp Nou to guard against the spread of coronavirus.
The Catalan giants announced the news on Tuesday:
The Champions League match scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, between FC Barcelona and Napoli, will be played at Camp Nou behind closed doors. pic.twitter.com/4uceIGrobY
The Independent also reported that Chelsea's trip to Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena on March 18 will be held behind closed doors after the Bavarian state banned gatherings exceeding 1,000 people.
On Monday, Germany confirmed its first two deaths from 1,139 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.
Valencia's clash with Atalanta in the Champions League and the match between Inter Milan and Getafe in the UEFA Europa League will also be played without fans present.
Barca's La Liga clash at Real Mallorca is likely to be played behind closed doors too, along with the rest of La Liga's fixture list, per football journalist Dermot Corrigan:
Spanish government expected to announce today that La Liga games from this weekend all behind closed doors. RFEF planning on postponing all Basque Copa del Rey final towards end of season, when hopefully can be played in Sevilla with fans as planned.
The Italian government placed the country in anationwide lockdownon Monday after the death toll from the coronavirus, known officially as COVID-19, rose by 97 to 463.
Only China, where the virus was first discovered, has been hit worse by the outbreak.
As a result of the emergency measures, public gatherings have been banned and sporting events are suspended.
Barcelona and Napoli played out a 1-1 drawat the Stadio San Paolo in late February in the first leg.
The Catalan giants are bidding to win their first Champions League title since 2015.
Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid: UCL Odds, Live Stream, TV Schedule
Mar 10, 2020
Atletico Madrid's Koke, left, and Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold fight for the ball during a 1st leg, round of 16, of the Champions League soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Liverpool will face their biggest test of the season on Wednesday when they take on Atletico Madrid at home in the UEFA Champions League round of 16.
Caesars Palace has named the Premier League giants -180 (bet $180 to win $100) favourites to take the win, while Atletico sport odds of +600. A draw comes in at +275. The Spaniards won the first leg of this tie 1-0 in Madrid.
Viewers can follow along via BT Sport 2 (UK) and B/R Live (U.S.). Kick-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. GMT/4 p.m. ET.
Here are the match highlights from the first leg:
The Reds dominated possession after the break but mustered few chances against an Atletico side known for their defensive fortitude and ability to frustrate.
The defeat in Madrid was followed by a poor run of matches, with two more defeats until the 2-1 win over Bournemouth at the weekend. Atletico have drawn their last two matches and are unbeaten in their last six across all competitions.
Liverpool enter the contest with a major concern; Alisson Becker is sidelined due to injury:
Alisson won't appear in Liverpool's Champions League last-16 second leg against Atletico Madrid because of a hip injury.
He'll also miss tomorrow's home game against Bournemouth, and things aren't looking good for the Merseyside derby on 16 March.
Per WhoScored.com, Jordan Henderson and Andrew Robertson are also doubts, but both are expected to start. Atletico's injury crisis has lessened, with the likes of Joao Felix, Diego Costa and Alvaro Morata available in attack.
Felix has been a standout of late, bouncing back nicely after a spell on the sidelines. He has two goals in his last three matches, but more importantly, has injected some much-needed creativity into the attack.
This match is expected to follow the same pattern as the second half in Madrid, with Liverpool dominating possession and probing for a goal, while Atletico wait for the counter. Felix provides them with a major weapon in that area, while the Reds will be confident they can create more chances in front of their own fans.
Atletico's away form in La Liga has been pedestrian this season, with just three wins in 13 outings and a negative goal difference. As good as they are defensively, they're not nearly as solid on the road as they are at home.
Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino make up one of the most prolific attacking tridents in the world, while few managers can set up defences better than Diego Simeone. This will be a battle of strength versus strength and may come down to whoever gets the first goal.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Atletico
PSG vs. Dortmund: UCL Odds, Live Stream, TV Schedule
Mar 10, 2020
DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 18: Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain is challenged by Emre Can of Borussia Dortmund during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park on February 18, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain will be the favourites going into the second leg of the UEFA Champions League tie with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday despite the strong form from the German side and their 2-1 win in the first leg.
Caesars Palace have handed PSG odds of -130 to win (bet $130 to win $100), compared to +310 for BVB. A draw checks in at +320.
The match will be played behind closed doors in Paris, starting at 8 p.m. GMT/4 p.m. ET. Viewers can watch via BT Sport 3 (UK) and B/R Live (U.S.).
A photograph taken on March 9, 2020 shows a view of a gate of the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, two days ahed of the UEFA Champions League Group A football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Dortmund. - Champions League round of 16 return le
PSG haven't been in action since a 5-1 cup win over Lyon last Wednesday, with their Ligue 1 fixture against Strasbourg suspended because of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The virus is also the reason the match against Dortmund will be played behind closed doors.
Despite the extra time to prepare, PSG have plenty of injury and absentee concerns going into the match, and Monday's training session saw Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani added to the mix:
Edinson Cavani left today’s training session early owing to a “personal problem,” according to @B_Quarez.
Per WhoScored.com, Marco Verratti and Thomas Meunier are suspended for the contest, and Thiago Silva and Colin Dagba are doubtful with injuries. Mbappe and Cavani are expected to feature, teaming up with Neymar to form a deadly trident in attack.
They face a stern test against a Dortmund team that have won five straight matches, including the 2-1 victory at the Signal Iduna Park in the first leg. They have kept a clean sheet in two of their three matches since.
Marco Reus and Thomas Delaney are out because of injury, but star forward Erling Braut Haaland will be available. He scored twice in the first leg and appears to have no nerves for the return leg:
Erling Braut Haaland to France Football: “I know what stress is, but it doesn’t concern me. I am a very calm person.”
PSG have exited the tournament in the round of 16 in three consecutive years, including last year's upset at the hands of Manchester United. Les Parisiens won 2-0 at Old Trafford before losing 3-1 at home.
They have their backs against the wall once again, even though a 2-1 defeat in Germany is not a bad result. As long as they can keep a clean sheet at home, a 1-0 win will suffice to advance.
Keeping a clean sheet won't be an easy task, however. The last time Dortmund were held scoreless was in November against Bayern Munich, and they have found the net in 18 straight matches across all competitions since.
Prediction: PSG 3-2 Dortmund
Champions League 2020: Live Stream, Odds for Tuesday's Round-of-16 Fixtures
Mar 10, 2020
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) head coach Jose Mourinho of Tottenham Hotspur gestures during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 19, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Last season's finalists Tottenham Hotspur face a tough task to qualify for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, as they head to RB Leipzig trailing 1-0 from the first leg in north London.
Jose Mourinho's side are also without injured forwards Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Steven Bergwijn, and they face a home team on a run of seven games without defeat.
Elsewhere, Atalanta will be expected to continue their memorable debut in Europe's elite competition by knocking La Liga side Valencia out.
Gian Piero Gasperini's team take a 4-1 lead to Mestalla for the second leg, which will be played behind closed doors in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Tuesday's Fixtures (both games kick off at 8 p.m. GMT/4 p.m. ET)
A live stream for both matches is available via the BT Sport website in the United Kingdom. Viewers in the United States can stream the action via B/R Live.
Preview
Timo Werner's penalty was the difference between Tottenham and RB Leipzig in the first leg and has given the Bundesliga side the advantage heading into the return fixture.
The German team might have had more goals but for an impressive performance from Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris:
Manager Julian Nagelsmann told reporters on Monday he expects top scorer Werner to shake off a thigh injury and start the game.
The 24-year-old has been in superb form in 2019-20 at home and in Europe. He has scored 21 goals in 25 Bundesliga appearances and four in seven Champions League games.
Squawka Football highlighted how impressive Werner has been since joining from Stuttgart in 2016:
Timo Werner’s Bundesliga career by numbers for RB Leipzig so far:
In contrast, Tottenham are struggling for goals due to injuries to key players and will look to Lucas Moura and Dele Alli to provide the cutting edge in attack on Tuesday.
The Brazilian has a good record away from home in Europe's top competition:
Lucas Moura has now scored six #UCL goals for Spurs:
⚽️⚽️⚽️ vs. Ajax ⚽️ vs. PSV ⚽️ vs. Barcelona ⚽️ vs. Olympiacos
However, Spurs head into the match on a five-game winless run, and it's difficult to see them turning this tie around without top scorers Kane and Son.
Meanwhile, Atalanta look in good shape to make it through to the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
The Italian club, who lost their first three group games, have been the tournament's surprise package and have enjoyed a fairytale European campaign.
Gasperini has said his team still need to score on Tuesday at Mestalla despite winning the first leg against Valencia 4-1, per UEFA:
"Of course, the first-leg result will boost our confidence. We need to score at Valencia, as well as stay focused and defend well, though. A psychological aspect of our game that we are working on is to maintain a good performance, because we seem to get comfortable and assume the job is done when it really is not. The team were great in the first leg, but I will not celebrate until the second leg is over."
Denis Cheryshev's goal at the San Siro will offer Valencia a slim hope that they can pull off a dramatic comeback:
However, they will need to go for goals on Tuesday, which could play straight into Atalanta's hands. The free-scoring Italians have netted 70 times in Serie A already this season and hit seven at Lecce last time out on March 1.
Kylian Mbappe Misses Training Due to Illness Ahead of PSG vs. Dortmund
Mar 9, 2020
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian MBappe takes part in a training session in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, west of Paris, on March 3, 2020, on the eve of the French Cup football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Lyon. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe missed training on Monday through illness ahead of Wednesday's crunch UEFA Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund.
Goal's Benjamin Quarez reported as much on Monday. His absence would be a significant blow to PSG's chances of overturning their 2-1 deficit against the German side and avoiding a fourth consecutive last-16 exit.
Mbappe has eclipsed Neymar as PSG's most important player during their time at the club.
He was PSG's top scorer last season as Thomas Tuchel's side retained their league title, racking up 33 goals in 29 league games for PSG.
He was also named Ligue 1 Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season for 2018-19 and finished sixth at the 2019 FIFA Ballon d'Or.
The 21-year-old is a prolific goalscorer with blistering pace who has terrorised defences in France since bursting on to the scene with former club Monaco and is already regarded as one of Europe's best attackers.
Mbappe missed the start of the 2019-20 season through injury, but he still has 30 goals and 17 assists to his name in just 32 games in all competitions.
If the forward does miss the match, which will be played behind closed doors because of the outbreak of the coronavirus, Tuchel will still have plenty of firepower available to him in the form of Neymar, Edinson Cavani, Mauro Icardi, Angel Di Maria and Pablo Sarabia.
UEFA Champions League Round-of-16 Leg 2: Live-Stream Info, Scenarios to Advance
Mar 9, 2020
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, challenges for the ball with Atletico Madrid's Renan Lodi during a first leg, round of 16, Champions League soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday Feb. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
The UEFA Champions League round of 16 resumes Tuesday. There will be a pair of second-leg matches each day Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as March 17 and 18. Once the last eight teams have been determined, the draw for the quarterfinals will be held March 20.
Below you can find the complete schedule for the second legs of the Champions League round of 16, how to watch and stream every match, a breakdown of the away goals tiebreaker, a first-leg recap and second-leg preview for each matchup.
Champions League Round-of-16 Leg 2 Schedule, How to Watch, Live-Stream Info
All of the round-of-16 second-leg matches will kick off at 4 p.m. ET instead of the usual 3 p.m. because of the difference in the start of daylight saving time in the United States and Europe.
Tuesday, March 10
RB Leipzig vs. Tottenham Valencia vs. Atalanta
Wednesday, March 11
Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund
Tuesday, March 17
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid Juventus vs. Lyon
Wednesday, March 18
Barcelona vs. Napoli Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea
Friday, March 20
The final draw of the Champions League season will determine quarterfinal matchups, set up the bracket for the remainder of the competition and determine a designated home side for the final. There will be no league, country or geographic restrictions, making every potential matchup possible.
TNT and B/R Live are the homes of the UEFA Champions League in the United States. You can stream every knockout-round match on B/R Live, with a select match each day broadcasting on TNT. Fans in the UK can watch the Champions League on BT Sport.
B/R Live provides multiple options for streaming Champions League soccer. The B/R Live Pass is available as a monthly ($9.99) or annual ($79.99) subscription, giving access to watch every live match, full replays, highlight and magazine shows and exclusive video content from some of the top clubs in the competition. The B/R Live Pass also allows you to watch every sport, league and program that streams on B/R Live.
Fans can also buy matches on a pay-per-view basis for $2.99 each, which includes access to watch the full replay at any time after it becomes available. Stream the Champions League on B/R Live here. And learn more about the B/R Live Pass here.
The Away Goals Tiebreaker Explained
Champions League knockout-round winners are determined by the aggregate score over two legs. When one team has more goals than the other after 180 minutes, it's easy. If the teams are tied after the second leg, the tiebreaker is away goals scored, utilized on the premise that it's harder to score away from home than at home.
That's why the teams that scored goals as visitors in the first leg, even in losses or draws, will feel relatively good about their chances of progressing. Those that didn't score away goals will feel the pressure of a much smaller margin for error. Second-leg away goals often vastly open up the matches, with teams having to shift from controlling the match to outscoring each other.
If the teams' away goal totals are also equal after 90 minutes in the second leg, the match will go to extra time. The wrinkle is that the away-goals rule still applies, meaning that if the visiting club scores, the home side will have to score twice to advance. The visiting team scoring in extra time also eliminates the possibility of the match going to penalty kicks.
Were the score and away goals still all square after extra time, a match will go to a shootout. These will operate as normal, with each side taking five penalties to determine a winner. If tied after five, the penalties will go to sudden death.
Champions League Round of 16: Leg 1 Recaps, Leg 2 Previews
A Timo Werner penalty made all the difference in the first leg in north London, where a Tottenham side dealing with several injuries was unable to conjure any form of a consistent attack. With Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Moussa Sissoko out injured, Spurs' struggles have continued, with manager Jose Mourinho left wondering what to do.
Leipzig returns to Germany in strong form, having climbed to second in the Bundesliga table. Werner and Marcel Sabitzer will look to guide Leipzig into the quarterfinals, while Lucas Moura and Tottenham will search for the magic that ignited last season's fairytale European run.
The darlings of this season's competition, upstart Atalanta went to work in the first leg against Valencia, pouring in four goals, two from Hans Hateboer, to bring a huge lead into Spain. One of the most explosive teams in Europe, Atalanta leads Italy's Serie A in goals scored by a decent margin.
But don't count out Valencia just yet. Its lone away goal in the first leg, as well as the return of a couple attacking options from injury, means this second leg could turn into a shootout. Dani Parejo, Maxi Gomez, Rodrigo and Daniel Wass will be surging forward.
Liverpool (0) vs. Atletico Madrid (1) | Stream on B/R Live (Also on TNT)
The European champions are in a bit of trouble after the first leg of their last-16 tie. Everything went according to plan for Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid side, which scored early and then locked down Liverpool for the rest of the match, holding the Reds without a single shot on goal.
But Liverpool won't feel too much pressure heading back to Anfield, which has been a fortress in English and European play. An Atletico away goal would make things interesting, especially with Simeone having never lost a UCL knockout tie to an opposing team lining up without Cristiano Ronaldo. But Reds manager Jurgen Klopp appears to have the utmost confidence in his group, led by Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.
This first leg lived up to the hype and then some. After a surprisingly scoreless opening half, the match went from zero to a hundred real quick during a 10-minute stretch in the second half. Teenage sensation Erling Haaland scored, Neymar equalized and then Haaland scored the winner, a rocket from outside the box.
Neymar's away goal is vital for PSG as they return to the French capital, but they will still need to push for the crucial first goal in the second leg. And don't expect Dortmund to play conservatively: The German club thrives on getting up and down the pitch, with Haaland, Jadon Sancho, Gio Reyna and Achraf Hakimi forming a lethal transition attack.
And to make things tougher for PSG, it will be without defender Thomas Meunier and midfielder Marco Verratti, both of whom are suspended for yellow-card accumulation. That puts even more of the weight on Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria and Mauro Icardi.
Manchester City (2) vs. Real Madrid (1) | Stream on B/R Live (Also on TNT)
Another riveting round-of-16 first leg took place in Madrid in a matchup that could easily be a final. Both clubs had spells of success, but Manchester City took over in the second half, even with one mistake leading to Real Madrid's opening goal.
However, Pep Guardiola's team was unfazed, as just minutes later Kevin De Bruyne set up Gabriel Jesus for the equalizer and scored one of his own from the spot, giving City the win and two all-important away goals.
Each club will be without significant pieces in the return leg. Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte suffered a hamstring injury in the first meeting, while defender Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid's captain, received a red card late in the match. City advancing would be a huge moment for a club that has dominated English football in recent years but struggled in Europe, even more so with a UEFA suspension hanging overhead.
Zinedine Zidane has won the Champions League in every season he has been in the competition in charge of Madrid, and guiding a turnaround in this tie would give him a great chance of adding to that impressive record.
Lyon surprised with its first-leg win, grabbing a first-half goal and then playing sound, tough defense to see out the match. Cristiano Ronaldo et al. were unable to break through with an away goal, putting heavy pressure on goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and center back Matthijs de Ligt to not concede in Turin.
Goal scorer Lucas Tousart and Lyon forwards Moussa Dembele and Bertrand Traore will likely only see a few chances in front of goal in the second leg and must take advantage of them in order to seal the upset. The French club will have to find the balance of not pushing too many bodies forward while also not trying to merely absorb the Juventus attack, as Atletico Madrid learned last season, when it took a 2-0 lead to Italy and was promptly eliminated by a Ronaldo hat trick.
One of the most intriguing round-of-16 matchups remains that way after the first leg, with Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann's away goal canceling out Dries Mertens' beautiful strike for Napoli. With Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne up front, the Italian side has the firepower to stay with Barcelona in the second leg.
Lionel Messi and Co. return home to the iconic Camp Not needing another sound 90 minutes to advance, and the Catalan club would love for its superstar to get going on the goal front. Messi has thrived as a provider in Europe this season, but with Luis Suarez injured, Barcelona need him to be a tad more selfish in seeking the back of the net. If he can do that, Barca has a chance to do some real damage in the competition.
With all due respect to Atalanta, the most comprehensive display from the last-16 first legs came from Bayern Munich, who went into London and dismantled their opponents for the second time this season. Robert Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry and Alphonso Davies ran circles around the Chelsea defense, with the 19-year-old Davies putting on a particularly impressive display at Stamford Bridge.
Heading to the Allianz Arena in Munich, a quarterfinals trip appears to be a formality for Bayern, even with the absence of Lewandowski, sidelined with a knee injury he suffered at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea don't have much better injury luck, with its engine, midfielder N'Golo Kante, out along with Christian Pulisic.
Having nothing really to lose, Frank Lampard should go for it with his lineup and could load up the attackers with a mix of veterans and promising young players. Willian, Mason Mount, Pedro and Olivier Giroud will all have to have big games for the Blues to stage a stunning comeback.
Gerard Figueras: 'A Possibility' Barcelona vs. Napoli Played Behind Closed Doors
Mar 9, 2020
NAPLES, ITALY - FEBRUARY 25: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Mario Rui of SSC Neapel and Ivan Rakitic of FC Barcelona battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between SSC Napoli and FC Barcelona at Stadio San Paolo on February 25, 2020 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Barcelona's match against Napoli at the Camp Nou in the UEFA Champions League on March 18 could be played behind closed doors, according to Gerard Figueras, the Catalan secretary for sport.
The tie is finely poised at 1-1 after the first leg at the Stadio San Paolo. Barca have the edge, however, given they have an away goal and are playing the second leg at home.
But they may have to play in the Camp Nou without fans after Figueras told Els Matins de Catalunya Radio that the match could be played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus outbreak (h/t Sport): "It's a possibility, although there's no decision taken yet. We have to speak about it with Barca."
He added that the final decision will be made later this week.
According to Football Italia, the Generalitat de Catalunya, the region's central government, has handed in an official request that the game be played behind closed doors in order to stem the spread of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
Concerns about the spread of the disease have led to numerous cancellations and postponements across multiple sports. Valencia's last-16 second leg clash with Atalanta on Tuesday will be played behind closed doors at the Mestalla Stadium.
Atalanta already have a foot in their first Champions League quarter-final after winning the first leg 4-1. Tottenham Hotspur against RB Leipzig on the same day, though, will be played in front of fans at Red Bull Arena:
Meanwhile, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation have agreed to postpone Asian qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in March and June.
PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund UCL Tie Will Be Behind Closed Doors Due to Coronavirus
Mar 9, 2020
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 01: A detailed view of a Paris Saint-Germain badge on the dugout prior to the UEFA Champions League group A match between Galatasaray and Paris Saint-Germain at Turk Telekom Arena on October 01, 2019 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain's UEFA Champions League last-16 second leg with Borussia Dortmund at the Parc des Princes will be played behind closed doors on Wednesday amid concerns over the coronavirus.
The Mirror's Darren Wells reported as much on Monday, following news that Valencia's clash with Atalanta will also be played in an empty stadium.
PSG's Ligue 1 match at Strasbourg on Saturday was postponed because of the outbreak of the disease, which is officially known as COVID-19.
The Parisians are 2-1 down from the first leg, in which Erling Haaland scored twice either side of a goal from Neymar.
RB Leipzig's clash with Tottenham Hotspur will proceed as normal, per football journalist Raphael Honigstein:
In Serie A, fixtures played over the weekend—which included Juventus' Derby d'Italia win over Inter Milan—were played behind closed doors, having been postponed from the previous weekend because of the coronavirus.
FIFA confirmedon Monday that Asian qualifiers scheduled to be played in March and June for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar have been postponed, although some of the matches may still be played subject to approval.
France, which prohibited indoor gatherings of more than5,000 peopleon February 29, banned gatherings exceeding1,000 peopleon Sunday.
There have been more than 100,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus worldwide. As of Sunday, there were1,126 casesin France and 19 deaths.
Champions League 2020: Round-of-16 Leg 2 Live Stream, TV Schedule, Predictions
Mar 9, 2020
DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 18: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Erling Braut Haaland of Borussia Dortmund celebrates after scoring his teams second goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park on February 18, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Ralf Treese/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
The drama will kick up a gear in the UEFA Champions League over the next couple of weeks, with 16 teams set to become eight.
Defending champions Liverpool have plenty of work to do if they're to continue their defence of the title, with Atletico Madrid visiting Anfield having earned a 1-0 win in the first leg of their tie.
Elsewhere, Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo will need to overturn the same scoreline in Turin against Lyon. Barcelona and Napoli will face off at the Camp Nou after a 1-1 draw in Italy, while Paris Saint-Germain host Borussia Dortmund in the French capital, having lost 2-1 to their Erling Haaland-inspired opponents.
Champions League - Second Round, Second-Leg Fixtures (GMT)
Tuesday, March 10
8 p.m. - RB Leipzig (1)* vs. Tottenham Hotspur (0)
8 p.m. - Valencia (1) vs. Atalanta (4)*
Wednesday, March 11
8 p.m. - Paris Saint-Germain (1) vs. Borussia Dortmund (2)*
Perhaps the most intriguing contests in the coming days will come on Wednesday, with two favourites for Champions League glory needing to recover from a first-leg deficit.
Liverpool toiled in their clash against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano. Following Saul Niguez's early goal, the Reds were frustrated by Diego Simeone's side, who defended brilliantly throughout the contest.
The Madrid outfit were able to nullify Liverpool's firepower and get under the skin of manager Jurgen Klopp:
Klopp previously very popular in Spain, but don't think he reacted too well to losing last night. Complaints about ref & Atletico tactics, when his team had zero shots on target all game...
It's likely to be a different affair at Anfield, though. Not only do the Reds have a reputation for producing big performances there, they have been exceptional in front of their own fans this term:
Liverpool set a new record for consecutive home wins in the English top flight 💥 pic.twitter.com/vQgyLe0JRy
Also looking to turn a tie around are PSG after they were left stunned by Borussia Dortmund and Haaland in the first leg of their clash.
The Norwegian netted twice in the second half either side of Neymar's goal. The second effort was one to remember, with the 19-year-old picking the ball up outside the area and thudding home a brilliant strike.
🖤💛 Erling Haaland:
👏 1st teenager to score 10 in a single campaign 🔥 Fastest to 10 goals in competition history (in 7 games) 😱 Scored on Dortmund debut in #UCL, Bundesliga & German Cup ⚽ 40 goals in 30 club appearances in all competitions this season #UCL | @BVBhttps://t.co/3QRw9xpZB9pic.twitter.com/lD2Vi0K3zu
PSG warmed up for this encounter with a 5-1 demolition of Lyon in the French Cup last week, with their own young striking sensation Kylian Mbappe firing in a hat-trick.
The Frenchman is having another incredible season in front of goal:
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) March 5, 2020
On Tuesday, Tottenham will face a big test away at RB Leipzig. The Premier League side were fortunate to escape with a 1-0 loss from the first leg, with Timo Werner's goal the difference.
In action on the same night will be Atalanta, who have given themselves a brilliant chance of advancing to the quarter-finals. They were sensational against Valencia in the first leg, romping to a stylish 4-1 win.
