Coronavirus to force UEFA into UCL one-off in bid to finish competition (Mirror)

The Champions League could be heading for a major revolution with quarter-final and semi-finals ties being played over one leg.

That will be one of the proposals up for discussion at the UEFA crisis summit meeting next Tuesday after next week’s Champions League and Europa League pictures were postponed because of the coronavirus.

Manchester City are favourites to get past Real Madrid but still have their return leg to play with Wolves and Manchester United also well placed in the Europa League with Chelsea trailing to Bayern Munich.

But if they get through then they could face one-off games at neutral venues or played at home grounds on the toss of a coin with UEFA desperate to get both competitions finished.

There is a determination to still stand by the Champions League final date on May 30 in Istanbul with the Europa final in Gdansk three days earlier.

But with teams returning to action in April at the earliest, that leaves little room for two-legged quarter and semi finals with the quarter final draw which was due to take place next Friday also postponed.

There is a growing feeling at UEFA that one-off ties are now the only way forward.

But existing ties are expected to be completed and would not be decided after just one game with City, Chelsea, Wolves and United having played their first legs.

The UEFA summit will be done by a video conference with all 55 member associations taking part and moving Euro 2020 by a year until the summer of 2021 is also key to the rescheduling.