As the UEFA Champions League returns today, we will see 16 teams fight for a spot in the Quarterfinal of the most lucrative competition.
The major difference between this season’s knock-out phase of the Champions League and other previous seasons is the introduction of no-away-goal. Football Clubs and fans in the past have always looked out for an away goal whenever their team plays away from home, but as it stands that rule is no longer in existence.
The rule was applied to determine the winner of a two-legged game should in case both teams have the same number of goals on aggregate over two matches. If one had more away goals they will qualify to yhe next round.
UEFA President, Alexander Ceferin confirmed after a meeting with the members of the board in June 2021, that the away-goal rule will be scrapped from the start of the 2021/22 season. This rule means the exact number of goals scored will be the number of goals that will be recorded.
Paris Saint-Germain and Porto both benefitted from the ruling during the 2020-21 Champions League campaign, likewise PSG in the Women’s Champions League. Spurs also progressed to the 2019 men’s final after beating Manchester City on away goals in the quarters and then against Ajax in the semis to book a date with Liverpool in the finals.
UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Fixtures:
PSG vs Real Madrid
Sporting vs Manchester City
Inter Milan vs Liverpool
Salzburg vs Bayern Munich
Chelsea vs Lille
Villarreal vs Juventus
Benfica vs Ajax
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United
