Is the away goals rule still used in the Champions League? What happens if teams are tied?
The away goals rule in the Champions League was scrapped, to the disappointment of some and the liking of others. Here’s why.
The away goals rule was once a staple of the Champions League but was removed by UEFA after more than 50 years. Teams in European competition now have to approach two-legged knockout ties differently. The rule had been in place since 1965, but everything changed at the start of the 2021/22 season.
Current tiebreaker rules in Champions League knockout games
If teams are level on aggregate goals after 180 minutes, matches go into 30 minutes of extra time. Away goals no longer count.
If the sides remain tied after 120 minutes in the second leg, a penalty shootout decides the winner.
How extra time works in the Champions League
Extra time is the first tiebreaker when teams are level in a knockout match. If the teams are still tied after extra time, the match moves to penalties.
In a shootout, each team takes five penalties alternately. The team with the most goals wins. If one side gains an unassailable lead before all five kicks are taken, the shootout ends early. If the score remains tied, sudden-death penalties continue until one team scores and the other misses.
Why UEFA removed away goals
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said the away goals tiebreaker ran “counter to its original purpose” and discouraged attacking football.
“It dissuades home teams - especially in first legs - from attacking, because they fear conceding a goal that would give their opponents a crucial advantage,” Ceferin said.
He added that away goals were unfair in extra time, where home teams often had to score twice to overcome a single away goal. This reasoning led to the rule being scrapped, meaning goals scored away from home no longer carry extra weight.
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