The Champions League knockout phase returns this week as 16 teams hope to work their way through the play-offs to join eight already qualified sides in the next round.
This year’s revamped format saw the introduction of a league phase, with the top eight teams progressing automatically to the last 16.
Those who finished between ninth and 24th, however, will have to navigate a two-legged play-off tie to join them in the latter round.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa are already in the last 16 after their impressive league-phase performances.
However, following a slump midway through the campaign, Manchester City have been given the daunting task of a play-off clash with defending champions Real Madrid.
Ahead of the start of the play-offs, and with rules varying from one competition to another, find out if away goals will count in this season’s Champions League.
Do away goals count in the Champions League knockout stages?
Away goals will not count in the knockout stages of the Champions League this season.
The format had often proved popular in previous years but was scrapped back in June 2021 ahead of the following season.
Instead, should ties be level after the second leg of a knockout fixture, the match will go to two 15-minute halves of extra time.
If the scores are still level following extra time then the match will head to a penalty shootout to decide the winner.
Why was the away goals rule scrapped in the Champions League?
Speaking about the decision to abolish the away goals rule, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said the move was made to ensure fairness.
Modern travel and advances in player recovery has made away games less arduous, and away wins have almost doubled in occurrence since the 1970s.
Ceferin said: ‘Although there was no unanimity of views, many coaches, fans and other football stakeholders have questioned its fairness and have expressed a preference for the rule to be abolished.
‘The impact of the rule now runs counter to its original purpose as, in fact, it now dissuades home teams – especially in first legs – from attacking, because they fear conceding a goal that would give their opponents a crucial advantage.
‘There is also criticism of the unfairness, especially in extra time, of obliging the home team to score twice when the away team has scored.
‘It is fair to say that home advantage is nowadays no longer as significant as it once was.’
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