- UEFA To Revise Champions League Knockout Rules After Arsenal, Barcelona Blow
- Arsenal, Barcelona exits fuelled criticism of unfair knockout format
- New rule expected to begin in 2025-2026 pending UEFA ratification
UEFA is set to implement a significant rule change in the Champions League knockout format following intense backlash over the competition’s inaugural 36-team league phase, which saw top-performing teams lose out due to away second-leg disadvantages.
Under the proposed new rule, clubs that finish higher in the league phase will automatically host the second legs of all knockout rounds — a shift from the current system that only applies this benefit in the Round of 16.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the change, approved by UEFA’s Club Competitions Committee, comes after widespread criticism following the exits of Arsenal and Barcelona in this season’s semi-finals. Despite finishing second and third, respectively, both clubs played decisive second legs away—Arsenal against Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona against Inter Milan—whose league-phase rankings were significantly lower.
Arsenal’s elimination in Paris sparked outrage, with sources revealing that the North London club officially lodged their complaints with UEFA. Manager Mikel Arteta and his team argued that the existing format failed to reward their superior consistency in the league phase.
Barcelona also suffered a similar fate. Despite overcoming Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals away from home, Xavi’s side couldn’t recover in the away second leg of their semi-final against Inter Milan, who had finished fourth in the standings compared to Barcelona’s third.
Previously, only Round of 16 ties were structured around league-phase rankings, with quarter-finals and semi-finals determined by an open draw. The inconsistency led to growing frustration among fans, clubs, and analysts.
The new rule, set to take effect from the 2025-2026 campaign, still requires final approval from UEFA’s Executive Committee. A virtual meeting is expected before August 28, when the draw for next season’s League Phase will take place.
Although regulations for 2025-2026 have been released, UEFA reserves the right to make amendments upon official ratification.
