The 2025-26 Champions League is about to start and UEFA has made a big change in the knockout stage of the competition that could significantly affect the championship’s suspense.
In the past, the homes of the matches of the second leg in the quarters and semis were decided by a random draw. However, from this season on, the results of the group phase will decide who gets home advantage in the return matches, which are the most decisive ones.
The better four of the 36 teams league will in this way be assured of playing the second leg of the quarters at home, while, among the semifinalists, the top two will also have the opportunity to play at home.
Moreover, there is a blending of inheritance and seeding advantage: the defeated top seed’s conquerors will become the new holders of their seeding privileges for rest of the tournament. As an illustration, last season Paris Saint-Germain which ended 15th in the league phase, eliminated Liverpool, who were leading, in the round of 16.
With the new rule in effect, PSG would have had Liverpool’s privilege and played both quarterfinal and semifinal second legs at home.
The alteration comes after clubs like Arsenal and Barcelona, who argued that despite finishing stronger in the league phase they were getting an unfair deal, had made their views known.
UEFA claims that the new scheme is rewarding the steadiness of the teams and at the same time preserving the element of surprise which has always been a feature of the Champions League.
