New away goal rule
You're referring to the new away goals rule in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League!
As of the 2021-22 season, UEFA has introduced a new away goals rule, which is designed to reduce the emphasis on away goals and promote more attacking football. Here's how it works:
The new away goals rule:
- If the aggregate score is level after the two legs, the match will go to extra time (two 15-minute periods).
- If the score is still level after extra time, the match will be decided by a penalty shootout.
Key changes:
- The away goals rule is no longer used as a tiebreaker. Instead, the match will go to extra time and then a penalty shootout if necessary.
- The away goals rule is only used to determine the winner of the match, not to decide the aggregate score.
- The new rule aims to encourage teams to attack and score goals, rather than defending and relying on away goals to win.
Why the change?
UEFA introduced the new away goals rule to address concerns that the previous system was too focused on defending and not enough on attacking football. The old system often led to teams parking the bus and relying on away goals to win, which was seen as negative and unattractive.
The new rule is designed to promote more attacking football, as teams will need to score goals to win the match, rather than relying on away goals. It's an exciting change that could lead to more thrilling matches and a more entertaining brand of football!