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.



F1 Title Fight Is Increasingly Focused on McLaren but Verstappen Says He’s Still Hopeful

 Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen attends a press conference ahead of the 2023 Saudi Arabia Formula One Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 17, 2025. (AFP)
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen attends a press conference ahead of the 2023 Saudi Arabia Formula One Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 17, 2025. (AFP)
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F1 Title Fight Is Increasingly Focused on McLaren but Verstappen Says He’s Still Hopeful

 Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen attends a press conference ahead of the 2023 Saudi Arabia Formula One Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 17, 2025. (AFP)
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen attends a press conference ahead of the 2023 Saudi Arabia Formula One Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 17, 2025. (AFP)

Ahead of Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this Formula 1 season is looking like McLaren vs. McLaren. Still, defending champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull says he hasn't lost hope.

McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are the only ones to consistently have the pace through the first four rounds of the championship. Norris has a three-point lead but admits he isn't at his best, while Piastri is the driver with momentum after winning in Bahrain last week.

Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes have all had their moments, but none has been a consistent challenger, as McLaren's 58-point constructors' championship lead shows.

Verstappen is the only non-McLaren driver to win a Grand Prix this season but in Bahrain he was struggling so much that Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko said he was concerned Verstappen might consider his future.

Verstappen said this week he wasn’t considering the championship picture this early in the season.

“I’m not thinking about that. I just go race by race,” Verstappen said. “I think at the moment, of course, we are not the quickest. So then naturally, it’s very tough to fight for a championship, but it’s still a very long road... I’m hopeful that we can still improve things and we’ll see what we get.”

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso dampened speculation Verstappen could seek to join his team, Aston Martin, after Red Bull car designer Adrian Newey made that move last year.

Asked if he’d welcome being Verstappen’s teammate, Alonso said Thursday: “Yes, but it’s unlikely to happen. Very unlikely.” Alonso’s current teammate is Lance Stroll, son of team owner Lawrence Stroll.

Jeddah hosts the fifth race in six weeks in a hectic start to the season, which stays at a record 24 races. There's a little respite after Saudi Arabia, with two weeks till the next race in Miami.

“I think it’s on the upper end of the limit. It feels like race 10 already,” said Williams driver Alex Albon, adding it's especially tough on mechanics and other crew members.

“As drivers, we travel better than everyone else in the paddock. We stay in better hotels than everyone else in the paddock — it’s just a function of being in a privileged position. With mechanics... these are people with families. These are the people that really struggle.”

The rookies are still enjoying their first taste of F1, though.

“It’s just the beginning of my career, so I just want to keep racing and keep driving,” said Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto. “I’m learning new things every single weekend, so for me, if I could have another race next weekend, I would be very happy as well.”