Champions League: Do away goals count? What are extra time and penalty rules in knockout stages of competition?
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Published 06/03/2023 at 11:36 GMT
Away goals in the Champions League were so important for decades, but a rule change in 2021 meant they no longer count for more than a normal goal. As Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool look to book a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, which can be watched live on BT Sport, find out what the new away goals rule is, plus how a tie can go to extra time and penalties.
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There is nothing like the knockout stages of the Champions League, especially when we get to the second leg of a huge tie.
Most of the last-16 matches are very much in the balance as Chelsea and Tottenham need to overturn 1-0 deficits, Manchester City are level with RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich sit 1-0 up on Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool’s hopes of a seventh Champions League title are hanging by a thread after they were stunned 5-2 by Real Madrid and need to beat the competition holders by at least three goals at the Bernabeu.
It brings up the question: do away goals still count in the Champions League and how can a match go to extra time?
Champions League away goals rule history
For 56 years, away goals were vital in the Champions League because they could decide a tie which was level.
For example, in the 2019 semi-finals, Tottenham lost their first leg to Ajax 1-0 at home, but dramatically won the second leg in Amsterdam 3-2 after a Lucas Moura hat-trick so went through on away goals.
The match was 3-3 on aggregate, but Spurs’ three away goals versus Ajax’s one put them into the final, which they lost to Liverpool.
However, ahead of the 2021-22 season, UEFA announced that the rule would no longer exist so away goals do not matter more in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
With the new rules in place, last season saw Manchester City beat Real Madrid 4-3 in a thrilling first leg at the Etihad Stadium.
After 90 minutes in the second leg, Carlo Ancelotti’s side were 2-1 up thanks to two late Karim Benzema goals. In the old format, Real Madrid would have gone through on away goals. However, the new system meant extra time took place.
In extra time, a penalty from Benzema put Real Madrid into the final where they went on to beat Liverpool to win a record-extending 14th title.
Are there extra time and penalties in the Champions League?
Yes. As long as the scores are level on aggregate after 90 minutes of football in each of the two legs, there will be 30 minutes of extra time.
Should the scores still be all square after extra time, the tie will be decided on penalties.
Does the Champions League have golden goal?
Since the 2002-03 season, there has been no golden goal rule in the Champions League.
Strangely, no Champions League match was decided on a golden goal, despite the rule being in place for a decade up to 2002.
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