Bayern v Barcelona Champions League match to be held without fans

(Reuters) - Barcelona's Champions League group match away at Bayern Munich next week will be played without fans due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the German state of Bavaria, the LaLiga club said on Friday.

Barca, second in Group E behind Bayern, are due to face the German side on Dec. 8 at Allianz Arena.

"Bayern Munich v FC Barcelona will be played behind closed doors," the Spanish club said.

"The game corresponding to match day six in the Champions League will be played without fans in the stadium due to the serious increase in coronavirus cases in the German region of Bavaria in the last few weeks."

Manchester City's game at RB Leipzig on Dec. 7 will also be played behind closed doors after the German state of Saxony went into partial lockdown last month.

The German government on Thursday reintroduced restrictions for sports events amid rising cases of COVID-19 infections and ruled that Bundesliga matches can only have an attendance of up to 50% and up to a maximum of 15,000 spectators.

German authorities fear a fourth wave of COVID-19 risks overwhelming intensive care units. The countryrecorded 74,352 new infections and 390 deaths on Friday, as per Robert Koch Institute.

Two cases of the new Omicron variant were also detected in the southern German state of Bavaria last week.

Bayern said in a statement that their Bundesliga games at home to Mainz 05 (Dec. 11) and VfL Wolfsburg (Dec. 17) will also be played behind closed doors.

"It is a hard hit to play again in front of empty stands in the Allianz Arena," Bayern board member Jan Dreesen said.

"Without fans football is only half as beautiful, not to speak of the financial consequences. But we have to accept the decision."