The last time we saw the UEFA Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain reached the quarter-finals and fellow Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais were eagerly awaiting the return leg against Juventus FC after defeating Cristiano Ronaldo and co. 1-0 at the Groupama Stadium in the Round of 16.
Then, the coronavirus crisis hit, and the Champions League was suspended.
For weeks, there’s only been speculation as to if and when the competition would return, where it would be played, and potential rule changes. On Saturday, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas revealed when his squad would return to the pitch in the Champions League.
“The match against Juventus is confirmed on August 7, in Turin, and behind closed doors,” Aulas said (via RTL).
Aulas also commented on the current state of affairs in Ligue 1, which is non-existent after the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) decided to cancel the campaign.
“If our legal actions don’t succeed, Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain will be massacred by teams who have had preparation.”
I don’t know about “massacred” but Aulas does have a point about French teams being at a competitive disadvantage as other leagues prepare to resume their seasons.
PSG and Lyon last played a competitive match in early March. If the August 7 date is accurate, that means both teams will have a five-month layoff. There is the chance that the Coupe de France final and Coupe de la Ligue final, which PSG and Lyon are both in, could take place before the Champions League but that hasn’t been finalized yet.
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