UEFA are set to make an alteration to Champions League rules following the first season operating the tournament’s new format. The European governing body are preparing to hand home advantage to the teams who perform best in the league phase for the duration of the knockout round after both Arsenal and Barcelona were denied that and met heartbreaking exits.
The first edition of the expanded 36-team tournament, which saw Paris Saint-Germain comprehensively crowned champions over the weekend, guaranteed that clubs who finished in the top eight of the league phase would play the second leg of their round of 16 tie at home. But from that point, the competition utilised an open draw meaning side’s finishing position in the table counted for nothing in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Arsenal and Barcelona finished second and third respectively in the league phase but were forced to play away in the second leg against opponents PSG and Inter Milan, who were ranked 15th and fourth. From next season, the opposite will be ensured.
UEFA’s club competitions committee agreed to the change in a meeting ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final. Regulations for 2025/26 have already been published but modifications can be made if ratified by the Executive Committee.
A virtual meeting is expected to be held no later than the League Phase draw, which takes place on August 28th.
Both Arsenal and Barcelona saw their performances early in the competition count for little at the quarter-final stage too. Real Madrid were only ranked 11th but still were able to host the second leg against Arsenal at the Bernabeu.
Barca meanwhile had to travel to Germany to confirm their progression over Borussia Dortmund. Both sides found success but were unable to replicate it in tighter affairs at the final four.
Reports claimed that Mikel Arteta’s side voiced their displeasure over the situation they found themselves in. The club are said to have felt aggrieved that their consistency in the league phase wasn’t rewarded in the knockout stages.
Following Arsenal’s exit, Arteta claimed that the Gunners were the best team in the competition. Speaking in his press conference after the defeat, the Spaniard said his team deserved more.
Talking about merits, I think we deserve much more. When you analyse both games, who has been the best player, the MVP, has been the same player, the goalkeeper.
“And the Champions League is decided in the boxes and it’s won the game for them because obviously today after 20 minutes and what happened in London as well, the result should have been very different.
“So I can take a lot of positives and I’m very proud of the team. We have to arrive in the competition at this stage with the full squad, full available, in best condition. We haven’t got that, so let’s put that aside.
“Still, the team that I’ve seen today against is probably one of the best, if not the best team in Europe. It gives me so much pride but at the same time I’m so upset, so annoyed that we didn’t manage to do it.”
