As football clubs around the world scramble to stay ahead of the coronavirus pandemic, a European club has now revealed how an ill-timed UEFA Champions League match has resulted in at least 35% of its players and staff testing positive.
On Sunday, Valencia defender Ezequiel Garay became the first LaLiga player to test positive for the coronavirus, with teammates Eliaquim Mangala and Jose Luis Gaya following suit soon after.
That number has climbed exponentially at the club over the past two days and at least 35% of the Spanish outfit's playing and coaching staff have now tested positive.
Valencia have since released a statement in respect of the outbreak, in which the club revealed that its staff contracted the virus during the recent visit to Italy for their Champions League tie against Atalanta.
"Despite the strict measures adopted by the club after their Champions League game... these latest results show the exposure inherent to such matches has caused a positive test rate of around 35%," the statement read.
"All cases are asymptomatic and those involved are currently isolated at home, receiving medical assessment and carrying out their scheduled training plan."
Former Denmark international Thomas Kahlenberg was one of the first football personalities to test positive for the coronavirus, while a number of players from England, Italy, Spain and Germany have also been infected.
