Bayern Munich Set to Play in Empty Stadium over Coronavirus

Bayern's Leroy Sane scores the decisive goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Arminia Bielefeld, in Munich, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Bayern defeated Bielefeld with 1-0. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Bayern's Leroy Sane scores the decisive goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Arminia Bielefeld, in Munich, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Bayern defeated Bielefeld with 1-0. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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Bayern Munich Set to Play in Empty Stadium over Coronavirus

Bayern's Leroy Sane scores the decisive goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Arminia Bielefeld, in Munich, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Bayern defeated Bielefeld with 1-0. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Bayern's Leroy Sane scores the decisive goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Arminia Bielefeld, in Munich, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Bayern defeated Bielefeld with 1-0. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayern Munich will likely host Barcelona without spectators in the Champions League next week after the state governor said on Tuesday he will demand sports events in empty stadiums due to high coronavirus infection rates.

Bavaria governor Markus Söder said his state would block fans from attending games even if there isn't an agreement to do it nationwide, ahead of talks later Tuesday between Germany's states, outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel and her designated successor, Olaf Scholz, The Associated Press said.

“It makes no sense to allow spectators again for the foreseeable future,” Söder told regional broadcaster Bayern 2. “If that doesn't work on the federal level, we will do it for Bavaria alone.”

Söder didn't give a timetable for his plan. Bayern's next home game is against Barcelona on Dec. 8, with a Bundesliga home game against Mainz three days later. The measure would also affect the other top-division men's soccer clubs in Bavaria, Augsburg and Greuther Fürth, and numerous teams in various sports.

Bayern was allowed a full house of 75,000 spectators in October but rising infection rates led to a cut to 25% capacity in Bavaria last week. Fans in the state are required to show a negative test for the coronavirus as well as either proof of vaccination or a recent recovery from the virus.

The Champions League game in Germany next week between Leipzig and Manchester City is already being played without spectators after the state of Saxony became the first to block fans this month. Saxony has the country's highest recent infection rates.

Nationwide measures are also a possibility. Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, expressed dismay on Monday that 50,000 fans were allowed for Cologne's Bundesliga game against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday.



Manchester United’s Amorim: 'I Will Not Have Time, I Have to Get it Right, Fast'

Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Manchester United - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - April 1, 2025 Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim REUTERS/Chris Radburn
Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Manchester United - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - April 1, 2025 Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim REUTERS/Chris Radburn
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Manchester United’s Amorim: 'I Will Not Have Time, I Have to Get it Right, Fast'

Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Manchester United - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - April 1, 2025 Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim REUTERS/Chris Radburn
Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Manchester United - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - April 1, 2025 Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim REUTERS/Chris Radburn

Ruben Amorim insisted he will not be given much time to turn things around as Manchester United manager, as his team slumped to another defeat at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
Former United forward Anthony Elanga's fine early goal earned Forest a comfortable win at the City Ground, with the visitors slipping to their 13th defeat of the season in the Premier League.
Tuesday's loss takes United to within one of their record of 14 Premier League defeats in the 2023-24 season, leaving them languishing down in 13th in the table as Amorim struggles to instigate any real change.
"In Manchester United, you don't have the time," Amorim said. "I will not have the time. We have to get it right fast.
"In here, the pressure is too big sometimes. We start the game suffering a goal and put Nottingham in the place they want to be - defending with lots of men - then they have really fast players to make transitions.
"Even with that, we controlled the game quite well, especially in the second half. We push forward but again, in the final third, we were not good enough."
Alejandro Garnacho was especially wasteful in attack for United, finishing the match having had six of United's 24 shots at goal, without really testing Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels.
Amorim has defended the young Argentine in the past, and again insisted Garnacho's overall efforts are of the standard required.
"He is making everything," Amorim added, according to Reuters. "He's trying. Sometimes you have one day that you are doing the right things, but in the final third, you are not that good, that can happen.
"The most important thing for me is that when he needs to run back, he is running back. Of course we want a player that has one against one. Sometimes he is trying too much.
"I think he wants to help the team to do his best, sometimes he doesn't make the best choice, but you cannot point to any player today."