PSG to meet Dortmund behind closed doors in Champions League

Neymar #10 of Paris-Saint Germain tries to break through the defense in the UEFA Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, February 18, 2020. /VCG

The spread of COVID-19 on Europe is messing with its top football event, the UEFA Champions League (UCL). The French police on Monday announced that the second-leg UCL game between Paris-Saint Germain (PSG) and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes will happen behind closed doors.

PSG lost to the Dortmund 2-1 in the first-leg game on February 18 in Germany. With no fans cheering for them at home, it will only make it even more difficult for the Ligue 1 defending champion to overcome the trail.

Lucas Tousart (R) of Olympique Lyonnais has the ball in the UEFA Champions League game against Juventus at Groupama Stadium in Lyon, France, February 26, 2020. /VCG

This is already the third UCL game that has to take place in an empty stadium after the Juventus vs. Olympique Lyonnais in Turin on March 17 and Valencia vs. Atalanta in Valencia on Tuesday. The two Italian teams are in very different situations at the moment. Atalanta will go to Spain with a 4-1 lead while Juventus will have to come back from 0-1 trail at home.

There is also a possibility that Barcelona vs. Napoli at Camp Nou on March 18 may happen behind closed doors according to Gerard Figueras, the Catalan secretary for sport. The first-leg game at Stadio San Paolo ended 1:1 meaning Barcelona will face their Italian opponents with a one away goal advantage at home.

Timo Werner of RB Leipzig scores his team's first goal in the UEFA Champions League game against Tottenham Hotspur at Hotspur Stadium in London, UK, February 19, 2020. /VCG

The game between RB Leipzig and Tottenham Hotspur at Red Bull Arena on Tuesday will be an exception. According to the football.london website, a spokesman from the office of Mayor Burkhard Jung confirmed that the not only the game will happen as schedule, supporters will also be allowed to enter attend the game.

Hotspur lost 1-0 in the first-leg game at home. However, their two ace strikers, Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, who contributed half of the team's goals this season, are unlikely to return from injury, and the last time Jose Mourinho won a UCL knockout game happened six years ago. Will he be able to break this awkward cold streak?