Barça-Naples could also be played behind closed doors

The Generalitat of Catalonia will decide this week on the possibility that the Barça-Naples of the Champions League, second leg of the round of 16 March 18, be played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus crisis.

“This is a hypothesis and this week will be negotiated between the Government and the club in accordance with the protocols marked by the Ministry of Health against the coronavirus. Right now there is no decision taken, ”said Gerard Figueras, Secretary of Sports of the Generalitat, in a statement to Catalunya Ràdio on Monday.

Figueras recalls that Naples is not one of the areas of confinement in Italy, but Italy is "a country in a risk zone" so "following health protocols would be a viable option."

As a spokesman for the Barcelona entity informed EFE, the Catalan club maintains permanent contact with the different official bodies, although there is still no definitive decision.

According to the newspaper L’Esportiu, the General Secretary of Sports of the Generalitat, the Ministry of Health and Interior and the Public Health Agency are committed to the game being played behind closed doors, but the decision has not been made firm.

In the event that the match ended up being played behind closed doors, it would be the second to be played in this way lately at the Camp Nou, which already hosted a Barça-Las Palmas de LaLiga on October 1, 2017.