Manchester City v Real Madrid, News Roundup: Madrid Player tests positive for COVID-19

We are just over a week from the renewal of the 2019-20 Champions League and the story lines and news pieces are setting off all over.

Let’s get to the three most pertinent.

1 Real Madrid Player Tests Positive for COVID-19

A Real Madrid player has tested positive for Covid-19 and will not be available against Manchester City in next week’s second leg of their Round of 16 Champions League tie.

The details from Spanish radio station Onda Cero, which claims that the player’s results were confirmed today and he has now entered a period of self-isolation and quarantine, with Deportes Cuatro then identifying the player as Mariano Diaz (h/t footballespana).

The news comes after our second piece of news

2 Real Madrid exempt from 14-day quarantine for trip to face Manchester City

The return leg of the Champions League’s Round of 16 between Manchester City and Real Madrid will be played in Manchester even though the UK government imposed a new 14-day quarantine rule for travelers from Spain. The government will not force Real Madrid to follow this rule, according to a report from Sky Sports.

Both pieces of news do bring questions of competive integrity and while I am one who sees this as part of the cost of playing amid global pandemic, others want to see some changes like away goal annulment to even moving the game out of Manchester.

3 Sergio Aguero should be available for game

That’s according to Pep Guardiola who said-“If we’re lucky, every single player will be available to play against Real Madrid with the exception of Mendy, who is suspended,” said Guardiola.

That is fantastic news and while he may not start, a cameo appearance of a fresh Kun could be the difference in this ties.

That will do it for now. Keep it here for Champions League coverage all through the month of August.