Whether your team was helped or hurt by goal tiebreakers in European Cup competitions, it will no longer be a factor starting with the knockout rounds of 2022.
In June 2021 UEFA abolished away goals starting with the 2021–22 season, and make no mistake about it: this is a major update on the football scene that will likely change the way the two- The leg series has been played historically.
The away goal tiebreaker rule had been in place for more than 50 years (since 1965) and would no longer be a factor in team strategy. The European governing body indicated that it took the move based on feedback from the football community and citing sporting justice.
In June 2021 UEFA abolished away goals starting with the 2021–22 season, and make no mistake about it: this is a major update on the football scene that will likely change the way the two- The leg series has been played historically.
The away goal tiebreaker rule had been in place for more than 50 years (since 1965) and would no longer be a factor in team strategy. The European governing body indicated that it took the move based on feedback from the football community and citing sporting justice.
What happens if teams tie on total goals?
Fans don't need to calculate how many goals each team has scored in a series to figure out who goes or how many goals your team needs to score.
Going forward, if there is a total-goal score after two legs have been equalized, there will be two 15 minutes of extra time. And if no more goals are scored during extra time, a penalty-kick shootout will take place to determine which team will advance.
Essentially, every goal scored during 180 minutes will count. No more "double-counting" goals as was commonly avoided, although this was never factually true (they only served as tiebreakers).
Why did UEFA get rid of the away goals rule?
The away goal rule has been in place since the 1965–66 season and the idea was to encourage road teams to attack rather than simply sit back and defend in adversity. With the knowledge that away goals would serve as potential tiebreakers, in theory road teams had something to gain by coming out of their shell and taking more chances, possibly leading to a more open match.
But many were advocating for the removal of the away goals rule from UEFA club competitions, including former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone, who wanted to see it abolished. They argued that the rule was excessively punitive for teams playing at home, especially in the first leg of the knockout series. A team conceded a goal at home brought a significant return to the series overall.
UEFA President Aleksandar Ceferin agreed and explained how the away goal tiebreaker played "contrary to its original purpose" and felt that it actually discouraged teams from playing attack football nowadays.
"This now prevents home teams - especially in the first leg - from attacking, because they are afraid of conceding a goal that would give their opponents a significant advantage," he said.
"There is also criticism of unfairness, especially in extra time, for forcing the home team to score twice when the foreign team has scored. It is fair to say that home advantage is not as important nowadays as it used to be." Was.
"Considering the consistency across Europe in terms of playing styles, and the many different factors that have led to a decline in domestic advantage, the UEFA Executive Committee has made the right decision in adopting the view that it is no longer appropriate. Aim to lift more weight than the one you made at home."
UEFA competitions affected by rule change
UEFA has stated that all its club competitions, including men's, women's and youth tournaments, have abolished the goal-scoring rule.
This means that the Champions League, Europa League, Women's Champions League, UEFA Youth League, UEFA Super Cup and the newly formed Europa Conference League will no longer use goals as total-goals series tiebreakers.