UEFA Champions League: All you need to know about the mini tournament in Portugal

The future of this season’s Champions League is set to be decided at a UEFA meeting on Wednesday, when plans for a ‘final eight’ tournament are presented.

UEFA’s executive committee are expected to sign-off on the condensed format, which would see the quarter-finalists head to Portugal for a mini-tournament in August.

But with ties scheduled to take place over one leg, on neutral ground and without fans, it promises to be an end to the competition unlike anything we’ve seen before.

Here, Sportsmail tells you everything you need to know about UEFA’s radical plans to crown the best team in Europe.

Manchester City hold a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid after winning the first leg of their last-16 tie

Manchester City hold a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid after winning the first leg of their last-16 tie

Manchester City hold a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid after winning the first leg of their last-16 tie

WHY PORTUGAL?

Spain, Germany and Russia had all been mooted as potential hosts for the mini-tournament, but Portugal appears to be the unanimous choice.

The country’s location is said to have played a part in the decision, as did the fact Portugal have no teams left in the competition.

Lisbon emerged as an attractive host city because it has two stadiums with the facilities needed for elite matches – Benfica’s Estadio da Luz and Sporting Lisbon’s Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Portugal’s top-flight, the Primeira Liga, resumed on June 3 behind closed doors and there have not been any major problems reported.

Most of the country’s coronavirus restrictions are also being lifted this month, with air travel in and out of the country allowed from June 22.

Visitors will not need to go into quarantine on arrival, although additional health and safety measures will be in place in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus. 

Benfica's Estadio da Luz is set to host a number of games, including the final on August 23

Benfica's Estadio da Luz is set to host a number of games, including the final on August 23

Benfica’s Estadio da Luz is set to host a number of games, including the final on August 23

SO TEAMS WON’T HAVE TO QUARANTINE? 

Not under the current rules, no. 

Like many European countries, Portugal is keen to reopen to tourists for the summer months and will soon be welcoming people from abroad.

The land border with Spain, which was hit particularly hard by the pandemic, will remain closed until July 1, while people visiting the Azores or Madeira islands will be tested upon arrival.

Portugal has so far recorded just over 37,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 1,520 deaths, although the numbers have slowed greatly in recent weeks.

Providing there is not a second spike, the country’s rules on borders and travelling should be the same when teams arrive for the tournament in August. 

Each club are likely to set up in their own hotel away from the public so that social distancing measures can be maintained.

According to the BBC, the abundance of suitable accommodation in Lisbon was another reason UEFA have opted for the Portuguese capital.

Atletico Madrid are waiting for the quarter-finals after knocking out holders Liverpool in March

Atletico Madrid are waiting for the quarter-finals after knocking out holders Liverpool in March

Atletico Madrid are waiting for the quarter-finals after knocking out holders Liverpool in March

HOW WILL THE TOURNAMENT WORK?

The ‘final eight’ tournament will be held over 12 days in Lisbon, with the first match taking place on August 12 and the final being played on August 23.

UEFA earmarked August as the month to complete the competition – and the Europa League – in order to give Europe’s top domestic leagues enough time to finish their respective seasons. 

Instead of playing the quarter-finals over two legs as normal, the new plan will see the ties become single games across four straight days.

The semi-finals, which will also be played over one leg, will take place on August 18 and 19, with the final at the Estadio da Luz four days later. 

Istanbul was due to host the 2020 final but will now be the venue for the 2021 showpiece, with all other scheduled hosts moving back a year. 

The teams already qualified for this season’s quarter-finals are France’s PSG, Italy’s Atalanta, Spain’s Atletico Madrid and Germany’s RB Leipzig.

The remaining last-16 second-leg fixtures are Manchester City’s home tie against Real Madrid, Chelsea’s trip to Bayern Munich, Juventus’s home game against Lyon and Napoli’s visit to Barcelona.

Neymar (left) and his PSG team-mates are safely into the last eight after beating Dortmund

Neymar (left) and his PSG team-mates are safely into the last eight after beating Dortmund

Neymar (left) and his PSG team-mates are safely into the last eight after beating Dortmund

SO WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE LAST-16 GAMES?   

UEFA were keen on completing the remaining last-16 second legs in Portugal before the mini-tournament begins, but that idea now looks dead.

Clubs are against the idea of giving up home advantage, particularly with each of the ties – apart from Bayern-Chelsea – finely poised ahead of the second legs.

City beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabeu, Juventus lost 1-0 at Lyon and Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw at Napoli.

Last week, Barca boss Quieque Setien said: ‘It would be damaging for us to play Napoli on neutral turf, seeing as we already faced them on their home ground at the San Paolo. 

‘If this is the scenario, then we’d have to accept it. Things are still up in the air, there are various suggestions, so we’ll see what happens.’ 

It appears that Setien has got his wish and it now appears increasingly likely that the second legs will be played behind closed doors at their scheduled stadiums.

Bayern Munich are set to face Chelsea at the Allianz Arena in the second leg of their last-16 tie

Bayern Munich are set to face Chelsea at the Allianz Arena in the second leg of their last-16 tie

Bayern Munich are set to face Chelsea at the Allianz Arena in the second leg of their last-16 tie

WILL IT BE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS? 

Organisers are proceeding on the basis that all matches will be played behind closed doors, with only essential personnel allowed on site.

However, UEFA are understood to have left the door open for possible changes should public health conditions in Portugal allow. 

If government guidelines are altered in time for ticketing to be organised, there is an outside chance that some fans could be allowed in to watch.

The capacity of both grounds would be greatly reduced in order to comply with social distancing rules and other safety protocols. 

HOW CAN I WATCH IT? 

BT Sport have the rights to the Champions League in the UK and will broadcast each of the games from the mini-tournament.

Kick-off times are yet to be announced, although they are likely to remain in the evening to avoid the hottest temperatures and ensure the biggest possible audience.

While BT have decided not to show any of their remaining Premier League fixtures for free, they could yet offer the Champions League final at no cost as they have done previously.  

Fans are unlikely to attend games at Sporting Lisbon's Estadio Jose Alvalade as it stands

Fans are unlikely to attend games at Sporting Lisbon's Estadio Jose Alvalade as it stands

Fans are unlikely to attend games at Sporting Lisbon’s Estadio Jose Alvalade as it stands

HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE LOST? 

UEFA are braced for a loss in income from broadcasters, who will expect sizeable refunds because they will have six fewer games to show as a result of the new format.

It is not yet clear how much European football’s governing body will need to repay, but the bill is likely to run into tens of millions.

In the Premier League, for example, officials agreed a rebate of £330million with domestic and overseas broadcasters because the season had been delayed.

UEFA – and the clubs still involved in the competition – will also be hit with a loss in matchday revenue, with games almost certain to be played behind closed doors.

The shortened format means there are still 11 games to be played without fans, which will result in a huge loss of ticketing, food and drink and merchandise sales.

Although the figures would have fluctuated depending on the teams who make it through to the latter stages of the competition, it is likely that the black hole in matchday income will exceed £35m.

Add that figure to a hefty broadcast rebate and the total loss for UEFA and the clubs still involved could well be heading towards £100m.

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