Man City to play Champions League second leg vs Monchengladbach in Budapest

UEFA have made a dramatic U-turn by switching Manchester City's Champions League last-16 second leg match with Borussia Monchengladbach to the Puskas Arena in Budapest.

City had hoped to avoid travel disruption by hosting Monchengladbach for the second leg at the Etihad after UEFA had confirmed the match could be held in Manchester.

Coronavirus travel restrictions between Germany and the United Kingdom saw last month's first leg — which City won 2-0 — played in Budapest.

Both clubs and the UEFA announced earlier this month that the return fixture could take place at the Etihad after holding talks with Monchengladbach's local authority in North Rhine-Westphalia.

However, UEFA have now said in a statement that the match has been moved to the Puskas Arena, which staged their first-leg match.

' UEFA is able to officially confirm that the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Manchester City FC and Borussia VfL 1900 Mönchengladbach will now be played at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest,' they said in a statement.

'The date of the match (16 March 2021) and the kick-off time (21:00CET) will remain the same.

'UEFA would like to thank Manchester City FC and Borussia VfL 1900 Mönchengladbach for their support and close cooperation, as well as the Hungarian Football Federation for their assistance and agreeing to stage the match.'

The news will come as a blow for Pep Guardiola, whose side are still in four competitions.

City are at Everton for an FA Cup quarter-final four days after the Champions League second leg and the 2,000-mile round-trip to Budapest will cause some disruption to Guardiola's plans.