Champions League: Atletico Madrid confirms two coronavirus cases ahead of Thursday’s tie

Spanish club, Atletico Madrid, have disclosed it has confirmed two positive cases of coronavirus from the test that was carried on Saturday.

It claims both identified individuals, who unfortunately tested positive, are currently self-isolating at home and pleaded for respect regarding the names of those involved.

Atletico Madrid have a Champions League last-eight tie against RB Leipzig on Thursday in Lisbon.

The club says in a statement: “Yesterday, Saturday, August 8th, all the members of the first team and of the club’s Lisbon travelling party were submitted to tests in the Ciudad Deportiva de Majadahonda as per UEFA’s protocol to participate in the Champions League quarter-finals.

“Today, two positives appeared among the known results, which are now isolated in their respective homes and were reported immediately to the Spanish and Portuguese health authorities, UEFA, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the Portuguese Federation and the Superior Council of Sports.

“As such, a corresponding protocol planned for these circumstances has been activated, which requires new tests to be undertaken to first-team players, members of the Lisbon travelling party and those who are in close contact with the positive cases, and which will result in changes in the timings of training sessions, in the structure and development of the journey and the accommodation in the Portuguese capital.

“The club will coordinate the new timings with UEFA and as soon as a new plan will be made, it will be made public. We ask for maximum respect towards the identity of the two positive cases.”

Related: Final 8th format for Champions League and Europa League competitions

UEFA amended the format of the final stages of the Champions League following the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final all now set to be held in Lisbon, Portugal.

These remaining matches, however, are one-legged ties which would be played in Lisbon at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz or Sporting Lisbon’s Estadio Jose Alvalade.