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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Jack Rathborn

Barcelona vs Dynamo Kiev: Champions League match at risk of being called off due to coronavirus outbreak

Photograph: REUTERS

Barcelona’s Champions League match against Dynamo Kiev is in doubt with the Ukrainian side struggling to field a side after a Covid-19 outbreak.

A squad of just 13 players travelled to Spain on Monday, which is the key number as the minimum according to Uefa’s health protocols.

Six more youth team players have travelled and could be called upon, but if Dynamo lose one more player from their List A squad, the match will be postponed.

The current total of players who have tested positive for coronavirus is six, with more tests to take place on Tuesday. Georgy Tsitaishvili, Denis Garmash, Mikkel Duelund, Alexander Karavaev, Tudor Belutse and Mykola Shaparenko have been named as the players who are currently isolated.

And Mundo Deportivo report those players trained with the squad on Sunday.

Mircea Lucescu has a shortage of options to face Barcelona due to Covid-19 (AFP)

A club statement read: "Testing showed a positive result in several players of the team: Georgy Tsitaishvili, Denis Garmash, Mikkel Duelund, Alexander Karavaev, Tudor Belutse and Mykola Shaparenko. In addition, the tests of assistant head coach Emil Karas and four representatives of the team's staff gave a positive result."

Those who have travelled have tested negative so far, but further tests are required to ensure they do not belatedly contract the disease.

If the game is postponed, then the clubs will have to find a date to replay the match before 28 January deadline.

Dynamo are also contending without assistant coach Emil Karas and four other members of the backroom staff tested positive.

While Mircea Lucescu is dealing without goalkeepers Denys Boyko and Heorhiy Bushchan and defender Vitaliy Mykolenko due to injuries.

Dynamo are sitting third in Group G, with a loss to Juventus in their opener before earning a point against Ferencvaros.

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