UEFA confirms Champions League final venue for Chelsea vs Man City

UEFA has finally confirmed the Estadio do Dragao in Porto will host the Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester City.

The Country’s Government were interested in the return of fans to stadiums with thousands of English supporters of both sides now set to descend on the city. Bayern Munich beat Paris St Germain in last year’s final which as held at the Estadio de la Luz in Lisbon.

Stadiums in Portugal have been closed to supporters amid the coronavirus pandemic but that has been eased to allow 10 per cent capacity for the final round of League games in the country this weekend, the green light UEFA needed to move the final.

Group stage match dates

Matchday 1: 20/21 October
Matchday 2: 27/28 October
Matchday 3: 3/4 November
Matchday 4: 24/25 November
Matchday 5: 1/2 December
Matchday 6: 8/9 December

UEFA has confirmed 6000 tickets will be made available for both sets of fans during the match on May 29, which has been moved from the original venue of the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul.

Turkey was announced last Friday as being on the UK Government’s “red list” for travel, making the tie almost impractical as it would mean players, staff, and also fans hoping to attend, would have to quarantine in an approved hotel for ten days upon their return at a cost of more than £1500 per person.

Portugal was placed on the “green list” for travel by the Government, meaning there are no quarantine restrictions for people returning to the UK from the country.

Wembley had been on the list of potential venues to host the final, the most logical venue considering two English teams are playing in the final, but talks broke down when the Government refused to allow exemptions for guests of UEFA for the game and international broadcasters who would be attending.

The round of 32 first legs are scheduled for Thursday 18 February, with the second legs on 25 February.

Round of 32
Draw: 14 December
First legs: 18 February
Second legs: 25 February

Round of 16
Draw: 26 February
First legs: 11 March
Second legs: 18 March

Quarter-finals
Draw: 19 March
First legs: 8 April
Second legs: 15 April

Semi-finals
Draw: 19 March
First legs: 29 April
Second legs: 6 May

Final
Gdańsk Stadium, Poland: 26 May