BERLIN, Feb 13 — Borussia Moenchengladbach’s home game against Cologne, which was postponed last Sunday due to Storm Ciara, has been rescheduled for March 11 at 1730 GMT, the German Football League (DFL) announced today.

The early kick-off time is necessary to avoid clashing with the Champions League, round of 16, second leg matches between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund, as well as Liverpool against Atletico Madrid the same night.

There is just over 50 kilometres between Moenchengladbach and Cologne and the Rhineland derby was also rescheduled to avoid the period of February 20-25, when a series of street carnivals are planned in the region.

Officials in Moenchengladbach called off Sunday’s home league game as they could not guarantee the safety of travelling fans after the match as heavy storms rampaged across western Germany.

With a game in hand, Gladbach currently sit fourth in Germany’s top flight with Cologne in 13th and six points from the relegation places. — AFP