Madrid and Barcelona games to be played behind closed doors due to coronavirus along with all LaLiga matches for 2 weeks

REAL MADRID and Barcelona will have to play all of their games behind closed doors for the next two weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak.

LaLiga have told all 20 clubs in its premier division that they have taken the drastic action in a desperate bid to contain the deadly bug from spreading across Spain.

LaLiga have announced that ALL games for the next two weeks will be played behind closed doorsCredit: Reuters

The Champions League tie between Barcelona and Napoli will also be played at an empty Nou CampCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Spanish health and sports ministries had already confirmed that Barcelona’s Champions League tie with Napoli next week will be played at an empty Nou Camp.

And following advice from the Council of Ministers, the government have prohibited clubs from playing in public for the next 15 days.

That came from a nationwide ban on all sporting events in Spain to be held behind closed doors during the next two weeks.

Zinedine Zidane’s Madrid are set to host Eibar in front of a deserted Bernabeu on Friday night while Barcelona will travel to Mallorca without their fans on Saturday evening.

Other big ties to be affected this weekend include Sunday’s double clash of Atletico Madrid’s trip to Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla hosting Real Betis.

Real Madrid are the only LaLiga side to have to play two home games without fans as they welcome Valencia before the ban is lifted.

Barcelona meanwhile have relatively recent experience of playing behind closed doors after supporters were shut out from their LaLiga game against Las Palmas in October 2017 due to violent independent protests across the region.

The coronavirus outbreak has taken a huge toll on sporting events around the world with the Champions League the latest to be affected.

Uefa have already taken the decision to play many of the round-of-16 ties behind closed doors.

Paris Saint-Germain’s game against Borussia Dortmund will take place in an empty stadium as well as tonight’s match between Valencia and Atalanta.

Also falling foul of the virus outbreak are the Europa League games between Wolves and Olympiacos, Getafe’s trip to Inter Milan and Sevilla versus Roma.

All sport in Italy, the European country hardest hit by the virus, has been suspended to at least April 3.

There have been over 114,000 infections worldwide and the death toll globally has passed 4,000.

Yet Spurs’ game against RB Leipzig tonight will allow fans into the arena after a ruling by German officials.

That is despite Chelsea’s clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday banning supporters from attending.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk