UEFA confirm Manchester City to host Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium in Champions League last-16 tie

UEFA has given the green light for Manchester City’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid to be played behind closed doors at the Etihad Stadium.

While confirming that all remaining continental matches will be played at empty stadiums, European football’s governing body said every outstanding second-leg game will take place at the home team’s ground.

Pep Guardiola’s City will be breathing a sigh of relief at the UEFA Executive Committee’s decision, which means they can step out on home turf against Real Madrid after winning 2-1 in February’s last-16 first leg at the Bernabeu.

UEFA confirmed that all outstanding last-16 second legs will not be played in neutral venues

The ongoing impact of coronavirus will see the Champions League quarter-finals, semi-finals and final all held at a mini tournament behind closed doors in Portugal.

A UEFA statement read: ‘Consistent with the principle of sporting fairness and considering that current conditions – all clubs due to play at home the return leg of the round of 16 are currently playing the remaining matches of their domestic leagues in their own stadiums and that travelling is possible without restrictions for the visiting clubs – the UEFA Executive Committee decided that the remaining UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League Round of 16 second-leg matches will be played at the home teams’ stadiums.’

The decision means that Wolves will be able to play the return leg of their Europa League round-of-16 encounter with Olympiacos at Molineux after the first fixture ended 1-1.

Manchester United can wrap up progress to the Europa League last eight tournament in Germany at an empty Old Trafford, having romped to a 5-0 triumph at LASK back in March.

The remaining European club games will be played in neutral venues from the quarter-finals

Manchester City lead Real Madrid 2-1 from the last-16 first-leg back in February