On April 1, 2020, the Champions League was suspended until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Four second leg Round of 16 fixtures had been completed, but four remained to be played, including Juventus vs. Lyon in Turin following the French club’s shocking 1-0 first leg victory.
All the remaining clubs in the competition hail from either the Bundesliga, Premier League, Serie A, LaLiga or Ligue 1, but only France’s top division has been cancelled with sporting events in the country banned until September.
Obviously this leaves us with a very strange sporting situation in the Champions League. The Bundesliga plans on resuming May 16, LaLiga is looking at June 20 and both the Premier League and Serie A are targeting return dates in June. Ligue 1, however, is over with the title going to PSG.
However, both PSG and Lyon will be expected to compete in the Champions League — despite not playing any competitive league games domestically — when the competition reportedly resumes in August. The man who’s leaked that potential return date is Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, and he understandably fears the worst for France’s teams.
“Our game against Juventus is confirmed for August 7, in Turin, behind closed doors,” Aulas said. “If the appeals are not successful Lyon and PSG run the risk of being massacred by teams that have had preparation other teams have not.
"This crisis will mean losses of $987 million for French football this season. It will scar us for life. I don't know who can survive. There was no need. In Europe we are the exception. It's a premature decision and maybe not entirely legal, because UEFA indicated that the leagues would be played out. Other countries have allowed their competitions to finish.”
As the date was leaked by Aulas without any UEFA confirmation, the club quickly backtracked on its president’s comments.
“Olympique Lyonnais would like to affirm that the date of Juventus v OL, in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, has not yet been confirmed, contrary to what has previously been stated,” reads a statement from the club. “The date of the Round of 16 fixture is expected to be set as part of the Champions League schedule, to be announced directly by UEFA in the near future.
“Olympique Lyonnais are also eagerly awaiting the 2020 Coupe de la Ligue final, likely at the beginning of August, which will allow them, unlike other teams, to prepare for this essential part of the new season. Nonetheless, OL regrets having to operate with a different preparation than their European rivals, who have, for the most part, already resumed training.”
PSG is already through to the quarterfinals after defeating Borussia Dortmund 3-2 on aggregate, but its global roster is spread around the planet for quarantine whereas players in Germany, Spain, England and Italy are returning to training facilities for individual workouts.
