As mentioned in recent weeks, UEFA has decided to change the rules for the Champions League, as well as the other European competitions it organizes (Europa League and Europa Conference League). Whereas the top 8 teams in the league phase had the advantage of hosting the second leg of the Round of 16, this little extra has been extended and made more complex, as beIN SPORTS reports.
“The top four, if they qualify, will also play their quarter-final second leg at home. Finally, the top two teams in the league phase will have the opportunity to play in front of their home fans in the second leg of the semi-finals.
UEFA’s aim is to encourage consistency and reward excellence, but it is not content to give the advantage to the top eight. Indeed, to introduce an additional notion of play, it has adopted the principle of gaining home advantage. In concrete terms, a team having placed between 9th and 24th in the league phase will be able to seize the privilege of one of the top eight… by eliminating it”.
So, each place will have its importance during the league phase. The aim is to avoid a drop in tension, or even rotation, among the front-runners once qualification has been secured. Even if the fact of hosting the return leg is not the decisive point for which everyone will necessarily fight to the maximum. The example of PSG this season, who qualified at Anfield against Liverpool in the Round of 8, is enough to understand this.
However, the evolution is well underway and we understand it. It will be a little harder to follow, however, with the possibility of “stealing” the privilege. And one wonders what will happen if the latter meets a team that should also receive in the return leg. Are we back to a draw?
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
