UEFA announced on Monday that the first leg of the round of 16 of the Europa League between Norwegian Molde and German Hoffenheim will be played at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica on February 18 at 9:00 p.m. The meeting moves to Spain due to the pandemic and the consequent entry regulations to Norway. The yellow submarine will find himself at that time playing in the Salzburg field its first leg of the round of 16 and seven days after the duel between Molde and Hoffenheim, they will receive the Germans in their stadium to decide the tie.
UEFA thanks Molde and Hoffenheim “for their close collaboration and support in finding a solution to the matter, as well as the Royal Spanish Football Federation and Villarreal for their help and for agreeing to host the match in question.” The return leg will be played at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Hoffenheim’s home stadium, on February 25.
It is a case similar to the one that happened with Leipzig – Liverpool, which could not be played in Germany due to government restrictions on visitors from Great Britain. That match will finally be played in Belgrade, at the Puskas Arena. There are several games pending to look for other locations in case the restrictions are not lifted in time, such as Atlético – Chelsea or Real Sociedad – Naples.
