RB Leipzig claimed that UEFA is close to canceling its Europa League games against Spartak Moscow
UEFA is close to kicking Spartak Moscow out of the Europa League, according to upcoming opponent RB Leipzig.
The German club are set to face Spartak at home in the last 16 first leg on March 10, and then at a neutral venue for the return leg a week later following a UEFA ruling that saw all Russian teams ordered to play out of their homeland amid a military operation in Ukraine.
Through CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, Leipzig revealed that they continue “to be in close contact with the associations” and has “complete confidence in UEFA and their decision.”
“We assume that the games will be canceled,” Mintzlaff added.
Discussions are said to revolve around whether the Germans, who reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2020, will get an automatic bye through to the Europa League quarter-finals or will have to face another reinstated outfit that has already been knocked out.
Such decisions would effectively expel Spartak from the competition after the Russians topped Group C which also contained Napoli, Leicester City, and Legia Warsaw.
Second-placed Napoli lost 5-3 on aggregate to FC Barcelona in a play-off following a heavy 4-2 loss in Naples last week, and could be a possible candidate to face Leipzig.