Barcelona to continue training ahead of Napoli return leg
UEFA has deferred any decision on cancelling the Champions League until 17 March, leaving Quique Setién's side to continue plotting for Napoli.
FC Barcelona’s first team squad are to continue training as normal until UEFA makes a definitive decision on whether to stage the Champions League second leg fixture between Quique Setién’s side and Napoli scheduled for 18 March.
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An emergency meeting held between UEFA officials and clubs in European competition on Thursday reached no definitive conclusion and a final decision was deferred until Tuesday, a day before Napoli are due to visit Camp Nou to play out the second leg of the last 16 tie, with the scores locked at 1-1 after the opening game at San Paolo.
That leaves Barça with little choice but to continue preparations as normal despite both Serie A and LaLiga being shut down due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus worldwide, leading to the cancellation or postponement of most sporting events scheduled in March.
Manchester City - Real Madrid suspended
Separately, Manchester City’s match against Real Madrid on 17 March was suspended on Thursday after Zinedine Zidane’s squad went into isolation following a confirmed case of Covid-19 affecting one of the Spanish club’s basketball squad.
As it stands, Barça will train on Friday and Monday as planned while awaiting a decision from the meeting in Nyon on Tuesday between UEFA and the 55 continental federations on the fate of this season’s Champions League and Europa League competitions, as well as Euro 2020, which is due to take place across 12 countries including Spain, Italy and the UK.