UCL: New home advantage rule emerges in Champions League shake-up

UEFA are reportedly set to modify the Champions League regulations for the upcoming season, as reported by ESPN. 

The change will grant home advantage in the second leg of all knockout ties to the teams that perform best in the League Phase, a decision made after Arsenal and Barcelona both experienced semi-final eliminations.

In the 2024-25 season, the inaugural year of the expanded 36-team format, only clubs finishing in the top eight of the League Phase were guaranteed a home second leg in the round of 16. 

However, subsequent rounds involved an open draw, diminishing the benefit of a strong league performance.

This season, eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain (15th in the League Phase) and Inter Milan (4th) were both drawn to play their semi-final second legs at home, despite their opponents, Arsenal (3rd) and Barcelona (2nd), having finished higher in the League Phase table.

Both PSG and Inter advanced to the final after securing victories in their home second legs.

As per ESPN, from the next season onwards, the order of each knockout tie will be determined by a team's League Phase standing, ensuring the higher-ranked side plays the crucial second leg at home. 

While the quarter-finals did not present such clear examples this season, this change will further emphasise the importance of finishing as high as possible in the League Phase, beyond simply securing a top-eight spot.

The report states that the modification received approval from UEFA's club competitions committee prior to Saturday's Champions League final. 

Although the regulations for 2025-26 have already been published, this alteration can still be enacted if ratified by the Executive Committee. 

The report further suggests that similar changes are also anticipated for the Europa League and the Conference League.

PSG claimed the Champions League, defeating Inter 5-0, Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester United in an all-English final and Chelsea secured the Conference League after a second-half fightback saw Enzo Maresca’s men beat Real Betis 4-1.