JAKARTA - RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff said the German club expected their Europa League last-16 tie against Russian side Spartak Moscow to be cancelled.

RB Leipzig will host Spartak Moscow in the first leg of that round on March 10, while the second leg will be played on March 17. But the match is unlikely to happen following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In addition, last weekend the German transport ministry said it would close the country's airspace from Russian planes and airlines for three months. Russia has called its actions in Ukraine a "special operation".

"We are in constant contact with the football associations and have full confidence in UEFA and their decision. We assume the match will be cancelled," Mintzlaff said as quoted by Reuters on Monday (28/2) as reported by Antara.

Earlier, German newspaper BILD reported that UEFA was planning to exclude Spartak Moscow from Europe's second tier of competition.

Last week, UEFA said home matches between clubs and the Ukrainian and Russian national teams in UEFA competitions would be played at neutral venues "until further notice".


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