European giants in crisis as COVID-19 hits Champions League

A worrying resurgence in COVID-19 cases in Europe has posed fresh challenges for Champions League organizers who have pressed ahead with the showpiece tournament regardless of the fact that countries including UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands have once more plunged into what is tantamount to a second lockdown.

With infection rates across the continent growing at a greater rate than ever, Dutch giants Ajax announced that "a number of players" have tested positive for coronavirus and will miss their Champions League clash with Danish side Midtjylland on Tuesday.

According to multiple local media outlets, at least 11 players, including captain Dusan Tadic, goalkeeper Andre Onana and midfielder Zakaria Labyad, were forced to be omitted from Ajax's match-day squad due to virus concerns.

Ajax coach Erik ten Hag was clearly frustrated by the huge blow, but he was reluctant to expand on the issue. "I can't say anything about the exact reasons and I'm also not going to comment on individuals because of privacy reasons. All I know is that they did not get permission to enter Denmark," he told reporters at a live-streamed press briefing.

"It has to do with testing. All I can say is the players affected by this are healthy in the sense that they don't have any symptoms or complaints," he added.

Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev were also devastated by the fresh outbreak as nine players will miss their much-anticipated Champions League tie against Barcelona in Spain on Wednesday after testing positive for coronavirus.

The affected individuals include goalkeepers Georgiy Bushchan and Denys Boyko, defenders Vitaly Mykolenko and Oleksandr Karavaev and midfielder Mykola Shaparenko, according to a statement released by the club on Monday.

The club also confirmed that the tests of assistant coach Emil Karas and four representatives of the team's staff gave a positive result.

In Spain, Real Madrid defender Eder Militao has contracted coronavirus ahead of their Champions League home game against Inter Milan, the Spanish giants announced on Monday.

His absence could be another headache for Zinedine Zidane as the Real coach has already lost Dani Carvajal, Alvaro Odriozola and Nacho to injuries.

Meanwhile, defending champions Bayern Munich said defender Niklas Suele is self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19 and will miss their showdown with RB Salzburg in Austria on Tuesday.

Suele is the second Bayern player to be pulled out of the Champions League after Serge Gnabry, who missed the German powerhouse's opening match against Atletico Madrid after contracting the virus.

Gnabry has since returned but Suele could be a doubt on Saturday when Bayern travel to title rivals Borussia Dortmund.

(CGTN)