Coronavirus: Bayer Leverkusen v Rangers OFF as UEFA postpones all Europa League and Champions League fixtures amid COVID-19 spread

Match was due to be played behind closed doors but now won’t go ahead

Rangers hosted Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie last night but the second leg will not go ahead next week

Rangers will not travel to Germany to face Bayer Leverkusen next week in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie after UEFA postponed all European competition amid the growing threat of coronavirus.

Steven Gerrard’s side were due to face the Bundesliga outfit at the BayArena behind closed doors but the match will not go ahead.

Last night, Sevilla’s home match against Roma and Inter Milan v Getafe were both postponed while other matches – bar Istanbul Basaksehir’s 1-0 win over Copenhagen – were played behind closed doors.

Now European football’s governing body has confirmed that all second-leg matches due to be held next week will not proceed as planned.

A statement from UEFA read: “In the light of developments due to the spread of COVID-19 in Europe and related decisions made by different governments, all UEFA club competitions matches scheduled next week are postponed.

“This includes the remaining UEFA Champions League, Round of 16 second leg matches scheduled on 17 and 18 March 2020; all UEFA Europa League, Round of 16 second leg matches scheduled on 19 March 2020; all UEFA Youth League, quarter-final matches scheduled on 17 and 18 March 2020.

“Further decisions on when these matches take place will be communicated in due course.

“As a consequence of the postponements, the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League quarter-final draws scheduled for 20 March have also been postponed.

“UEFA yesterday invited representatives of its 55 member associations, together with the boards of the European Club Association and the European Leagues and a representative of FIFPro, to a videoconference meeting on Tuesday 17 March to discuss European football’s response to the outbreak.”