- Torrential rain and thunderstorm causes floods in Manchester and areas around the Etihad Stadium
- Stadium concourse and City square deemed unsafe
- Pitch inspection shows ball not bouncing on waterlogged pitch, although it improved by the kick off time.
- Game called off shortly before kick off time due to safety concerns in the area immediately surrounding the stadium
- UPDATE: Manchester City confirmed that the game will be rescheduled for Wednesday at 7.45pm in the usual Champions League slot.
Manchester City’s first group game in the Champions League group phase against Borussia Monchengladbach was called off after three heavy downpours during a thunderstorm.
It’s now a waiting game to see when the match will be rescheduled. UEFA regulation 25.02 stipulates that an abandoned game must be played on the next day or a reserve date or other date set by the UEFA administration.
This could mean fans missing out if the game is scheduled for an earlier kick-off time than the original 7.45pm which was not possible tonight.
The UEFA refereeing team inspected the pitch 50 minutes before kickoff, with rain bucketing down in the Etihad, and the signs weren’t good as the ball didn’t bounce and standing water was seen near the sidelines.
Closer to kickoff the rain had relented a bit but not enough to satisfy match safety officials.
They had earlier urged caution when walking around in the concourse before preventing ticket holders from entering the stadium and eventually barring people from entering City Square for refreshments.
With flooding also causing traffic gridlock issues around Manchester and reports of the tram system in chaos in Manchester city centre the decision was taken to abandon the game.
City are no strangers to cancelled game due to adverse weather conditions, with a game against Sunderland at the Etihad called off due to strong winds in on February 12 2014.
Again, the pitch was playable but reaching the stadium was proving difficult for fans and the disappointment particularly clear for the Monchengladbach fans who had travelled from Germany with many stood bare chested in the away end singing until they, too, filtered away.
The team sheets had been distributed before the game, which was already in doubt, was finally called off.
Pep Guardiola made three changes on team sheet before game was abandoned
Pep Guardiola’s team showed three changes from the side that beat Manchester United at Old Trafford last Saturday.
Raheem Sterling, who had previously stated that his favoured role was on the left wing, appeared to be getting his wish after right-sided winger Jesus Navas was named alongside him in the team.
Sergio Aguero returned from a domestic ban to replace Kelechi Iheanacho up front while Pablo Zabaleta and Navas replaced Bacary Sagna and Nolito.
Zabaleta took the captain’s armband from David Silva but will have to wait at least a day before he can lead City out against their German opponents.
And one man will have to wait a little longer for his Manchester City debut – Ilkay Gundogan was named on the bench for tonight’s match.