Sport

Champions League teams decimated by positive Covid-19 cases

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Ajax announced on Monday that 11 players had tested positive before it’s tie against Danish side FC Midtjylland on Tuesday.

As a result, the Dutch club will travel to Denmark with just 17 players for their third Group D game.

Under UEFA rules, Ajax must play the game if 13 or more first-team players are available.
“There are few players who can play in the Netherlands but did not get permission to enter Denmark and it’s a bit strange,” Ajax manager Erik ten Hag said during a press conference on Monday.
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Ajax manager ten Hag during its match against Feynoord.

“They have no symptoms or complaints. If they might still be able to play rests in the hands of the medical personnel and the authorities. I have strong hope that they can play but I am not sure.”

Ajax lost its opening game in the Champions League to reigning Premier League champions Liverpool while it earned an 2-2 draw to last season’s quarterfinalists Atalanta last time out.

Elsewhere, six Dynamo Kyiv players and five members of staff have tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of its Champions League Group G match against Spanish giants Barcelona on Wednesday.

“Testing showed a positive result in several players of the team: Georgy Tsitaishvili, Denis Garmash, Mikkel Duelund, Alexander Karavaev, Tudor Belutse and Mykola Shaparenko,” the club said in a statement.
Shaparenko controls the ball during the Champions League match against Ferencvaros.

“In addition, the tests of assistant head coach Emil Karas and four representatives of the team’s staff gave a positive result.”

It also added that those who had tested positive were in self-isolation and doing well.

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Dynamo are third in Group G with one point, five behind leaders Barcelona.

Meanwhile 25-year-old Bayern Munich defender Niklas Sule also tested positive ahead of the German’s club clash with Red Bull Salzburg while Real Madrid’s Brazilian defender Eder Militao recorded a positive test.

source: cnn.com