City eyeing Euro return date with Madrid in August

MANCHESTER CITY could end up playing the Champions League showdown with Real Madrid in August.

UEFA are thinking of putting back the outstanding ties from the Champions League and Europa League to that month – and they may all be staged in a mini tournament.

Pep Guardiola, below, and his side have still to play the second leg of their last-16 tie against Real with City in control following their 2-1 win in Spain in February.

City could end up playing on August 7, but if the UK is still in lockdown and a 14-day quarantine is in place for arrivals into the country, they will have to play the home game at a neutral venue.

Wolves, Manchester United and Rangers are also still involved at the last-16 stage of the Europa League.

UEFA have already discussed holding the later rounds of the Champions League and Europa League as a mini tournament in Istanbul and Gdansk respectively, which is where the finals are due to be staged.

That could now include the remaining last-16 ties and quarter-finals, with dates pencilled in from August 2 all the way to the Europa League final on August 27 and the Champions League final on August 29.

Wolves, United and Rangers may have to play their outstanding fixtures on August 6.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves side drew the away first leg with Olympiakos 1-1.

United will take a 5-0 lead into their return match with LASK at Old Trafford, while Rangers are 3-1 down from their home first leg against Bayer Leverkusen.

UEFA meet today, with the 55 national associations taking part in a video conference call to discuss what to do with the matches.

The governing body of football in Europe want to have a clear plan from every domestic league by May 25.