PARIS: Manchester United, Inter Milan and Sevilla – the former champions who complemented the final tribal rivals of the Europa League in Germany – were placed as the squad of choice to win the championship which was turned into mini-matches due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All contests starting from that rank will be held without reciprocity and will take place behind closed doors in four arenas in Germany – Cologne, Duisburg, Dusseldorf and Gelsenkirchen – after a delay of five months.

With tickets to the Champions League awaiting the final winner in Cologne on Aug 21, many changes have taken place on European football since the pandemic struck Mac.

“There are new rules against the bubble that will make the trip later. We need to stay together around the hotel and the training ground,” said Manchester United controller Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Players and teams will be tested before leaving for Germany and again tested as good as they get there, a process that will be repeated before each match.

The European Football Union (UEFA) advises each squad to take distinctive charter flights to reduce risks to outsiders, and book exclusive hotels – where players are exiled.

Covering faces are not required over saved players and coaches but they must practice social spacing when seated, with the players directed to exert touch when heating up.

The resistance ball will be smeared before football starts and during the break.

United, champions of the 2017 edition, take on FC Copenhagen in Cologne tomorrow as Serie A champions Inter take on Bayer Leverkusen in a clash between the former UEFA Cup winners at the Dusseldorf Arena.

Sevilla ahead of Wolves, who are marching into Europe’s first final tribe since 1972, in Duisburg on Tuesday.

Champion Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk, winner of the 2009 edition, will meet the Switzerland Basel club in Gelsenkirchen.