Atlético Madrid’s return to Liverpool evokes eerily grim memories

Atlético’s most recent visit to Anfield for a Champions League tie in March 2020 turned out to be the last major football match in the UK before the sport was halted by the Covid crisis

Madrid was at the centre of the Covid-19 outbreak by 11 March 2020 and had closed its schools, suspended its regional parliament and all events with more than 1,000 people in response. La Liga had decided to stage matches behind closed doors and the all-Basque Copa del Rey final between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad had been postponed indefinitely.

Yet 3,000 Atlético Madrid supporters were among a crowd of 52,267 inside Anfield that night, staying in Liverpool hotels, travelling on public transport and celebrating in Liverpool pubs after knocking the holders out of the Champions League. Local hospitals reported an additional 37 deaths shortly afterwards.

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Coronavirus | The Guardian

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