Chelsea’s Champions League Round of 16 first leg against Atletico Madrid will be played in Romania, UEFA have confirmed.
The match, which will be played on Tuesday, February 23, was unable to take place at the La Liga side's Wanda Metropolitano Stadium due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Spanish authorities yesterday confirmed the extension of a ban on all flights from the United Kingdom due to coronavirus variants, the latest of which has been discovered in Bristol.
Flights from the UK are not allowed unless they are carrying Spanish nationals or residents. The ban is set to last until March 2 with a further extension possible.
As a result, Atletico have been searching for an alternative venue across Europe to host what is the Blues 'away leg' of the tie.
The National Stadium in Warsaw was reportedly considered but it's been confirmed this morning by the two clubs and UEFA that the match will be played at the Arena Nationala in Bucharest.
The second leg of the tie will, as things stand, take place at Stamford Bridge. That game is scheduled be played on Wednesday, March 17.
In the UK, exceptions have been made for the travel of elite sportspeople due to the testing that exists within the sports. Spain has made no such allowance.
