A Champions League like no other set to kick-off in Lisbon
In what may be a once-in-a-lifetime arrangement, the Champions League is to be held in a World Cup style knockout format - and Lisbon get the honour of acting as hosts.
In a tournament like no other, the quarter-finals onwards will be played in the Portuguese capital, welcoming the best clubs in the world as the likes of Manchester City, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and PSG aim to battle it out to lift the biggest prize European football has to offer.
It will not be perfect, of course, and the back-drop of this immense tournament ensures that it isn’t a competition filled exclusively with cheer, as the globe continues to battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The circumstances are therefore entirely unprecedented and disagreeable, and the hope is that things may be able to return to normal as soon as is safe to do so.
For now, however, it means that fans will obviously be unable to attend, a disappointing but understandable and entirely necessary precaution to take, but one that does take away from the magic and prestige of the event.
But Portugal still aim to put on a show - and allow the Champions League to take centre stage as the nation prepare to host yet another major international event.
Having hosted the immense 2014 Champions League final played out in front of 60,000 passionate football fans, and having seen Portugal lift the Nations League in Porto just last summer, Portugal are getting a real taste of welcoming elite football to their shores - but this one will be like no other, as fans are actively encouraged to stay away, with Lisbon still the epicentre of the coronavirus within the country.
Nevertheless, the football should take centre stage for the month of August, and even if there are no Portuguese sides left in the tournament, it should be one greeted with enthusiasm and excitement to all football fans across the globe as the season that was once in jeopardy comes to a delayed, but hopefully blistering, end.
It kicks off at 20:00 on Monday 12th August as Atalanta take on PSG - with the Champions League final set to take place in Benfica’s Estadio da Luz on the 23rd August at the same time.
