UEFA is reviewing its Champions League knockout stage seeding system following criticism over Arsenal being forced to play their quarter-final second leg at Real Madrid despite finishing higher in the league phase.
Under current rules for the revamped competition, only teams finishing in the top eight of the 36-team league phase are guaranteed home second legs in the round of 16. For quarter-finals and semi-finals, the home advantage for second legs is determined by random draw rather than league position.
This arrangement has disadvantaged Arsenal, who finished third in the league phase but must play their decisive second leg at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid, who finished 11th. Should Arsenal advance, they would again face an away second leg in the semi-final against either Aston Villa or Paris Saint-Germain.
According to sources, UEFA officials recognize that the current system may not adequately reward teams that excel during the league phase. Discussions are underway about potential changes for next season to ensure higher-ranked teams receive appropriate advantages throughout the knockout stages.
The controversy highlights the challenges UEFA faces in balancing competitive fairness with the commercial and logistical demands of its flagship club competition. The organization recently rejected proposals to eliminate extra time in knockout matches despite player welfare concerns, fearing such a change might encourage defensive tactics from underdog teams.
Since the away goals rule was abolished, approximately 60 percent of Champions League knockout matches requiring extra time have been decided before penalties, suggesting the current format does produce decisive outcomes.
Arsenal enter Wednesday’s second leg at the Bernabeu with a commanding 3-0 advantage following Declan Rice’s standout performance at the Emirates Stadium. This cushion may mitigate the disadvantage of playing away, though the Gunners experienced the challenges of an away second leg last season when they were eliminated by Bayern Munich at the same stage.
The potential seeding changes would represent another adjustment to UEFA’s Champions League format, which underwent its most significant transformation in decades this season with the introduction of the league phase replacing the traditional group stage.
