UEFA are set to complete the Champions League with a "Final Eight" tournament held over 11 days in 2 venues in Lisbon, Portugal. Accordingly, the proposal will be presented to their executive committee for ratification tomorrow.
Under the plan, the competition which was suspended in March due to the COVID-19 global pandemic will resume with the second legs of the remaining last 16 games played at scheduled venues. The single-leg quarter-final games will be played in Lisbon on four straight days from 12 to 15 August.
The semi-finals will take place on 18 and 19 August and the final on 23rd August in the Portuguese capital. The plan allows for quicker completion of the season than the traditional two-legged home and away format but does mean the competition will have six fewer games that will cost UEFA broadcast revenue.
The games are likely to be shared between Lisbon's two major stadiums of Estadio da Luz (Benfica) and Jose Alvalade Stadium (Sporting Lisbon). Organizers are proceeding on the basis that matches will be played behind closed doors but UEFA is understood to have left the door open for possible changes should public health conditions in Portugal permit.
Meanwhile, a similar format will be adopted to decide the Europa League competition in German venues from August 10. remaining last 16 second-leg fixtures will be held at neutral venues with the "Final Eight" held in Duisburg, Duesseldorf, Gelsenkirchen and Cologne.
Istanbul was due to host the 2020 final of the Champions League but will now, instead be the venue for the 2021 edition, with all other scheduled hosts moving back a year. The traditional opener to the European season, the EUFA Super Cup, is expected to be held in Budapest on 24th September.
