UEFA’s major revamp of away goals rule in Champions League and Europa League next season

UEFA are set to partially scrap the away goals rule from next season, after a plan to scrap the away goals rules altogether had been rejected. If the new regulations are to be agreed on Friday, away goals will only count extra up to the end of 90 minutes in the second leg.

Any then scored in extra-time would have no advantage.

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The proposal, backed by Europe’s top clubs, will be on the table at the meeting of Uefa’s competitions committee, which includes Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Manchester City chief exec Ferran Soriano.

The number of games played on neutral pitches, including both legs on occasions for ties involving Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and City, has raised concerns the rule is no longer fit for purpose.

As they continue pushing ahead with their plans to extend the Champions League from 125 matches per season to 225. Their plan will see the 36 teams in one league but playing ten matches in the opening phase.

The so-called “Swiss system” will mean teams play seeded opponents to ensure a fair calculator.

The top eight sides after ten matches will automatically reach the last 16, with the final eight places decide by home and away play-off games involving the sides finishing ninth to 24th.

That concept for the post-2024 shape of the European game is expected to be confirmed by the end of this month.

The group stage will start on October 20/21, 2020 with the final taking place in Istanbul on May 29, 2021.

August 8-11:Preliminary round
August 18/19: First qualifying round
August 25/26: Second qualifying round
September 15/16: Third qualifying round
September 22/23 & 29/30: Play-offs
October 20/21: Group stage matchday 1
October 27/28: Group stage matchday 2
November 3/4: Group stage matchday 3
November 24/25: Group stage matchday 4
December 1/2: Group stage matchday 5
December 8/9: Group stage matchday 6
February 16/17, 2021: Round of 16
April 6/14, 2021: Quarter-finals
April 17 & May 5, 2021: Semi-finals
May 29, 2021: Final