The quarter-final stage of the Champions League and Europa League is upon us, with four crucial ties set to take place this week. One major change in the top two European competitions is the elimination of the away goals rule.
In previous years, away goals played a significant role in determining the outcome of European knockout games. However, in 2021, UEFA decided to do away with this rule in the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League qualifiers and knockout games.
Now, any tied aggregate score will lead to extra-time, with penalties being the decider if the scores are still level after the additional 30 minutes. This change has been met with mixed reactions from fans and stakeholders, as the away goals rule often gave an advantage to teams scoring on the road.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin explained the reasoning behind the decision to abolish the away goals rule, citing concerns about fairness and the impact on the style of play in European competitions. The move aims to address the changing dynamics of home advantage and ensure a level playing field for all teams.
In the event of tied scores after two legs of a match, extra time will be played in the second leg, followed by penalty kicks if necessary. This new format promises to add more excitement and drama to the knockout stages of the Champions League and Europa League.
The removal of the away goals rule marks a significant shift in European football competitions and will undoubtedly have an impact on how teams strategize and approach matches in the future.
