After 56 years, UEFA have declared that theaway goals rulewould be withdrawn from European soccer starting from the upcoming2021/2022season. The adjustment is being implemented throughout the mens’ and women’s Champions League, the Europa League, and the Europa Conference League. UEFAcurrently claimthat there is no longer a basis to be made for rating away goals more highly than home goals.
The away goals rule has been in use in football for nearly 50 years, having been originally used in the 1965-66 Cup Winners Cup. It was initially used in the tournament’s second round, in a game between Czech side Dukla Prague and Hungary’s Budapest Honved in November 1965.
It was later expanded to the European Cup- now Champions League -in 1967 and has since been used in a broad range of knockout events throughout the world.
The away goals rule is one of three FIFA-approved procedures for determining a game’s victor in the case of a tie, the other two being extra time and penalties. The regulation was introduced with two main goals in mind: to eliminate the necessity for a tie-breaker at a neutral site and to encourage teams to attack away from home.
Top 5 Champions League games decided on away goals rule
Since its introduction in the game, theaway goalsregulation has always been a delicate matter, especially in the UEFA Champions League. For some, it has brought tears of joy, but for some, it has caused incredible heartbreak. Let’s take a look at theTop 5 Champions League games decided on away goals rule.
5. Juventus vs Porto (2020-21 season)
Because of the regulation, Juventuswere eliminated from this year’s Champions League campaign, for the second season in a row. The Italian team was held to a 4-4 aggregate tie by Porto and left the competition with fewer away goals. Sergio Oliveira’s 115th-minute strike stunned Juventus, sending Porto through on away goals in an enthralling Champions League last-16 match. Two minutes later, Adrien Rabiot’s thunderous header gave the Italian champions hope.
Oliveira’s 19th-minute penalty gave Porto a 3-1 aggregate lead after Merih Demiral pulled down Porto’s Mehdi Taremi. After 63 minutes, Chiesa headed home a Juan Cuadrado cross to draw the game on aggregate. It appeared like Juventus would take advantage of their man advantage, but Porto fought brilliantly to force extra time when Oliveira’s goal clinched the tie.
4. Inter vsMilan(2002-03 season)
The most dominant sides during the time of club football were Italian giants Interand Milan. Three of the four teams were Italian clubs including the Nerazzurri, the Rossoneri, and Juventus in the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2002-03 season.
The Semi-Final tie in the season was the Milan derby, the Derby della Madonnina,in whichMilan took the first leg 0-0 in the home leg and scored a 1-1 goal in the second half to the finals against Juventus. Andriy Shevchenko opened the score for the official away side, only for the score to be equalized by Obafemi Martins.During that season, Milan won the final in Manchester after a successful penalty shoot-out againstJuventus.
3. Tottenham vs Ajax (2018-19 season)
Tottenham‘s 3-2 triumph against Ajax in Amsterdam saw them progress to the competition’s final by away goals in 2018-19, having previously overcome Manchester City in the same manner in the Quarter-Final.Lucas Moura scored the game-winning goal in the 96th minute to seal an incredible Tottenham comeback against Ajax and set up an all-English Champions League final versus Liverpool.
Spurs had the worst possible start in Amsterdam, down 1-0 from the first leg when a powerful fifth-minute header by 19-year-old Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt increased the advantage for Erik ten Hag’s dynamic young team. Hakim Ziyech increased Ajax’s advantage on the night with a sweeping finish from a Dusan Tadic pass. Spurs were 3-0 down on aggregate, but in another tense semi-final, Mauricio Pochettino’s team struck twice in the second half.
2. Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern (2020-21 season)
Paris Saint-Germainhas been the final team to advance in theChampions League based on away goals. In 2021, PSG matched Bayern 3-3 in theseries but proceeded to the Semi-Finals due to the greater number ofaway goals.In a thrilling second leg between the teams that met in the final last year, PSG were dangerous on the break, challenging visiting goalkeeper Manuel Neuer many times and hitting the crossbar twice via Neymar.
Bayern Munich, on the other hand, broke the stalemate and gave themselves hope of a comeback win when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting climbed highest to follow David Alaba’s saved shot with a close-range header. With Robert Lewandowski out injured, the Germans lacked their customary ruthlessness up front and were unable to produce the second goal that would have extended their trophy defense.
1. Chelsea vs Barcelona (2008-09 season)
This encounter cannot ever be forgotten by neither the Chelsea, nor the Barcelona supporters. After achieving a 0-0 draw in the first leg at the Nou Camp, Chelsea entered the second game at the Stamford Bridge.
However, the Blues performed very well, with some contentious decisions taken by referee Tom Ovrebo, Chelsea could not win the two-legged tie and hence was known by Chelsea fans as being “one of the most serious thefts in soccer history”.After the Michael Essien thunderbolt had given Chelsea the lead in the night it took a thrilling late score from Andres Iniesta to grab a late 1-1 draw.