12 Thursday, June 18, 2020 Sports Bayern win eighth straight , Paderborn relegated AFP Berlin Bayern Munich were crowned Delayed Euro 2020 to Bundesliga champions on Tues- day for an eighth straight season as Robert Lewandowski’s volley retain 12-city format secured a 1-0 win at Werder Bremen, while Paderborn were relegated from the top flight in AFP Berlin. Paris Euro 2020, as it is still Bayern picked up their called even though it eighth consecutive win since UEFA announced on will be played in 2021, the Bundesliga resumed in mid- Wednesday that it was plan- May behind closed doors due to ning to keep the same pan- was meant to be in the coronavirus, as coach Hansi continental format for the full swing by now. Flick won the league title in his postponed Euro 2020 after first season in charge. president Aleksander Ceferin “Compliments to the recently hinted that the num- ing matches across the con- team, it is sensational what we ber of host cities could be re- tinent. have achieved in the past few duced. In an interview with beIN months,” said Flick whose side “The 12 original host cit- Sports, Ceferin recently ad- have won all of their last 14 ies have been confirmed as mitted to having “some issues” games. venues for the final tourna- with three unnamed cities. “Today there is no criticism, ment in the summer of 2021,” “In principle, we will do it you have to emphasise the way UEFA said in a statement. in 12 cities. But if not, we are the players have done it. Euro 2020, as it is still ready to do it in 10, nine or “Player and coach, team called even though it will be eight,” he said. have simply been one unit.” played in 2021, was meant to That would have left some A deft chip over the Bremen be in full swing by now, but hosts less than happy, mak- defence from Jerome Boateng postponing the tournament ing the meeting that decided was chested down and volleyed by 12 months was one of the on whether to trim the format home by Lewandowski, who first big decisions UEFA took a potentially delicate diplo- claimed his 31st league goal this as the coronavirus crisis in- matic operation for UEFA. season and his 46th in all com- Bayern Munich players celebrate in front of near-empty stands after securing an eighth straight Bundesliga title in Bremen on Tuesday. (AFP) tensified. Instead, at a teleconfer- petitions, shortly before half- “UEFA took a bold deci- ence held at the time that time. a 1-0 defeat at Union Berlin af- Seventh-placed Freiburg home win over Wolfsburg as said Gladbach head coach Mar- sion when it decided to post- Finland were originally But Bayern endured a nervy ter an own goal from the visitors stayed in the hunt for a Europa midfielder Jonas Hofmann co Rose. pone Euro 2020,” UEFA said. scheduled to play in Saint Pe- finale after teenage left-back Al- by Ben Zolinski. League place next season after scored twice. The result was all the more “But in doing so, we created tersburg in a Group B game, phonso Davies was sent off 11 “There was always a little replacement striker Nils Peters- After consecutive defeats impressive as Gladbach eased to the space which has allowed UEFA announced the format minutes before the final whistle bit missing in our game”, said en came off the bench to net the by Freiburg and Bayern, Glad- victory without injured French domestic club competitions would stay the same. for a second yellow card. Paderborn captain Christian winning goal and seal a 2-1 win bach raced into a two-goal lead forwards and across the continent to re- “The UEFA Executive He was lucky to avoid a Strohdiek. at home to Hertha Berlin. after half an hour at Borussia Alassane Plea. sume, where possible, and Committee also expressed its straight red after a kick on “When the disappointment It was Petersen’s 11th goal of Park. Gladbach moved back into play to a conclusion.” appreciation to the host asso- Leonardo Bittencourt which fades, we can simply be proud the season, but the 25th of his Hofmann scored twice be- the fourth and final Champions UEFA had broken with ciations, host cities and their earned him his first yellow on of what we have achieved in the career which he has scored as a fore Germany international League spot, two points ahead the tradition of naming one, authorities for their continu- 19 minutes. last few years,” added Strohdiek substitute. swept a third into of Bayer Leverkusen, who host or two countries, as tourna- ous support and commit- The result keeps Werder after Paderborn had earned the net following a second-half Cologne on Wednesday in their ment hosts for this edition, ment,” said the statement. Bremen second-from-bottom back-to-back promotions in the Gladbach hunt Champions counter-attack. game in hand. instead selecting 12 cities, “All existing tickets re- with just two games left to avoid previous seasons. Union’s win League “We scored three goals, Bayern and Borussia Dort- from as far apart as Baku and main valid for the tourna- dropping down to the second- in Berlin means they are guar- Earlier, Borussia Moe- didn’t concede and picked up mund have already qualified for Dublin. The unwieldy for- ment in 2021,” UEFA said, tier for the first time since 1980. anteed a second Bundesliga nchengladbach stayed in the three points with an ambitious next season’s group stage, while mat allowed the governing adding that fans could ex- Bottom side Paderborn had season having come up for the hunt for a Champions League performance in difficult condi- RB Leipzig sit third, five points body of European football to change them if they could no their relegation confirmed with first time in 2018/19. berth with an emphatic 3-0 tions, so I am happy with that,” clear of Leverkusen. spread the prestige of host- longer go.

Champions League to be completed with ‘final eight’ in Lisbon in August German FA

women’s Champions League host the mini-tournament boss hopes Istanbul awarded will also go ahead in an eight- were boosted by the fact that team straight knock-out tour- it has not been as badly hit for 1,000 fans 2021 final nament in Bilbao and San by the pandemic as other Sebastian, in Spain, from Au- western European coun- at cup final AFP gust 21 to 30. tries, and it has no clubs Paris “Football is leading the left in the competition. The AFP return to a more normal life Portuguese league recently Berlin The 2019-2020 Champi- here in Europe,” said UEFA resumed matches behind ons League, suspended since president Aleksander Ceferin, closed doors. The head of the German foot- March because of the corona- but in all cases it remains to ball association (DFB) hopes virus pandemic, will be com- be seen if any supporters will ‘No Plan B’ a crowd of up to 1,000 fans pleted in a ‘final eight’ format be allowed to attend matches. UEFA Deputy General Secretary Giorgio Marchetti (left) and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin address a press There are still restric- could be allowed to watch the in Lisbon in August, UEFA Almost all games around conference closing an Executive Committee meeting at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Wednesday. (AFP) tions in place in wider Por- national cup final live in July, said on Wednesday. Europe are currently being tuguese society, as the coun- which would make it the first Europe’s top club compe- played behind closed doors the competition. Now we will 2021 final as single ties. UEFA said all try eases its lockdown, but match in Germany to welcome tition will be decided by a se- amid strict health guide- play it, hopefully.” The men’s Champions matches would be split be- UEFA is confident there back spectators. Berlin’s Olym- ries of one-off matches begin- lines, and Ceferin said no With the European death League final was initially due tween Benfica’s Estadio da will be no need for another pic Stadium, which traditionally ning in the Portuguese capital decision would be made on toll from the coronavirus to be played in Istanbul in Luz, and the nearby Esta- change of plan between now hosts the German Cup final, has on August 12, with the final whether to let spectators in easing and numerous EU May before the Covid-19 crisis dio Jose Alvalade, home of and August. a capacity of 75,000 but all foot- on August 23, European foot- “until mid-July”. countries this week opening took hold. Sporting. “For now things look ball matches have been played ball’s governing body con- “If I would answer today their borders again to visi- The Turkish city will now The 65,000-capacity Es- well, and we hope everything behind closed doors since the firmed following a meeting of then we don’t think we could tors, there is some hope that host the 2021 final instead, tadio da Luz hosted the final will be fine until we organise German league resumed in its executive committee. have spectators at the Eu- matches can be played before with Saint-Petersburg, Mu- of Euro 2004 and the Cham- the final eight. There is no mid-May. The numbers allowed Similarly, the Europa ropa League and Champions crowds. nich and London hosting the pions League final in 2014, reason to have a Plan B but into grounds are limited to play- League will be completed League quarter-finals, semi- Ceferin added: “We don’t following three years. while Sporting’s 50,000-seat- we are assessing the situa- ing staff, coaches, club officials, with a ‘final eight’ across four finals and finals but things are know if (it would be) only the The quarter-finals and er stadium was also used at tion, not week by week but media and match officials with German cities, with the final changing rapidly,” he said. local fans, if no fans, or even semi-finals are usually held Euro 2004 and for the UEFA day by day, and we will adapt fans locked out. in Cologne on August 21. “A month ago I couldn’t if fans from different clubs over two legs, home and Cup final in 2005. when the time comes, if nec- However, when Bayern Mu- The closing stages of the even answer if we could play could travel.” away, but will now be played Portugal’s credentials to essary,” said Ceferin. nich play Bayer Leverkusen on July 4 in the national cup final, the president of the German Football Association (DFB) Fritz Keller hopes 1,000 fans can be allowed in. “The legislators will decide. QSL thanks medical teams In Berlin, events up to 1,000 spectators are allowed. If the Senate says yes, we can do it, who participated in virus tests then we’ll let 1,000 in,” Keller told national broadcaster ARD. “Talks have already been he Qatar Stars League (QSL) extended its of testing, Hani Taleb Ballan, CEO of QSL, held with those responsible at Tsincere thanks, appreciation and gratitude met with the medical teams who supervised the Berlin Senate.” to all parties who participated in the suc- the process, and thanked and appreciated Chancellor Angela Mer- cessful first phase of the novel coronavirus them on the successful completion of the kel’s government wants to ban tests), held as part of the arrangements being task, according to the general plan and pro- events with large crowds until made ahead of the resumption of 2019-20 tocol,” QSL said. at least the end of October over QNB Stars League, according to the general The testing process, which ended on fears of renewed transmission plan and protocol developed by the QSL and Tuesday, included players, administrative of the coronavirus, according to approved by the Ministry of Public Health in as well as technical staff, QSL and club an official draft seen by AFP. co-operation with Aspetar hospital. staff, volunteers and team bus drivers. All However, football stadiums “The QSL also appreciates the great role teams underwent the test process and are and other sports events could and efforts made by everyone in preventing on home quarantine awaiting Al Arabi’s test be subject to an exception and the spread of Coronavirus in the society. In results. Their team members will join them allowed to admit limited num- this regard, on the last day of the first phase on Thursday. (TNN) ber of fans, but the subject is under discussion.