RB Leipzig celebrated last week after the success against San Sebastian the entry into the round of 16 of the Europa League, now Domenico Tedesco’s team is said to be in the quarter-finals. Various media report this.
Originally, the Leipzigers were drawn on Friday (February 25th, 2022) in Nyon, Switzerland, as opponents of the round of 16, Spartak Moscow. Because of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the pairing was canceled and both games were canceled by UEFA on Monday (02/28/2022). The Bild newspaper, Sky Sport Germany, the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung and the English newspaper The Sun all reported this. There shouldn’t be a team coming up that RasenBallsport could meet. An official confirmation from UEFA is still pending.
Mintzlaff: “Assuming rejection”
Before the UEFA decision, RB CEO Oliver Mintzlaff also said on Monday (February 28th, 2022) that a rejection was expected: “We are still in close contact with the associations and have full confidence in UEFA and their decision. We assume that the games will be canceled,” Mintzlaff told the German Press Agency.
Leipzig wanted to play
After the draw on Friday, RB Leipzig had confirmed that they wanted to play against Spartak Moscow. The status at that time was that Leipzig would play their home game in the trade fair city, and the second leg should then take place on neutral ground. Later on Sunday morning, the club tweeted that they were in intensive talks with European football’s governing body over the round of 16 schedule. The association is expected to make a decision in the near future.
RBL coach Domenico Tedesco recently viewed a one-sided Leipzig boycott of the game critically. “When the question of a boycott comes up: In my opinion, it always affects the wrong people. It primarily affects the athletes and the fans. I would have liked a different framework for this game. The current situation is bad. For me it is There is no solution in any situation,” said Tedesco on Sunday evening after the 1-0 win at VfL Bochum. Tedesco was coach of Spartak Moscow until May 2021.
jmd/dpa