The UEFA has confirmed the new seeding rules for the Champions League knockout round – not giving the benefit of the house purely based on the controversial league stage.
In May, it was revealed that the rules would be changed from this season, with the second stage site depending on the merit rather than a random draw.
It was expected that the UEFA would determine the team that plays at home in the quarter -finals and semi -final returns based on the final league stages of the teams included in the tie.
For example, a team in 3rd will be at the 15th house for returns legs. However, the UEFA has decided to prioritize only teams instead, which ended in 1-4 positions-or clubs that knock them.
1-4 ranked teams are guaranteed to stay in the second phase of the house in 16 and quarter-finals-if they reach there. Teams ranked 1-2 are also sure of home priority in the semi-finals.
Arsenal He was angry that he had to play in the second phase of his Champions League semi -finals Paris Saint Germain In the last season in France, even though the gunars were placed third in the league phase and the PSG 15th.
However, this change in the rules will not benefit the arsenal. Because PSG knocked on number 1-rank Liverpool In the era of 16, Ligue 1 The priority of the house from Liverpool with a tie will be “win”. Therefore, despite being PSG, 15th, then the quarter -finals and the second leg of one house in the semi -finals will be guaranteed.
This means that if the same thing happened in the next season, the arsenal still would have to play the second leg. It provides less incentives to achieve a high location inside the top eight, and gives a chance for a team out of top locations to obtain priority bezer plantation.
UEFA’s decision not to reprint each tie again depending on the league phase placeing creates an imbalance, an additional division into the knockout bracket. It puts the teams that harm the third or fourth, as it is now impossible to be at home in the second phase of a semi -finals.
Only teams that end up in the following positions can get a second leg in the semi -finals: first, second, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 18th, 23rd, 24th.
This is a difference of how most American sports rank seeding during their playoff schedule.
Rules change must have made a separate semi -final order Barcelona (Second) VS. Internazionale (Fourth). Siri a The side, which reached the final, was prepared at home last season, but will automatically prioritize Barcelona under the new system.
Arsenal had to play against the second phase of his quarter -finals real Madrid (11th) In the previous season, in burnbuy, and that tie will be reversed this season, with a third -place automatic home priority.
Regulation change also applies to UEFA Europea League, UEFA Conference League and UEFA Women’s Champions League.
