Deciding UCL playoffs: what happens if there’s a tie after the second leg?

With the Blockbuster game between Real Madrid and Manchester City on a knife edge, along with various others, the prospect is that the goals level is more than likely.

The UEFA Champions League is the highlight of European club football, where the top teams of the continent collide in high-stakes, two-legged knockout matches after the group phase (this year a whole new thing). And given that change in size, we now have play -offs to close before the round of 16.

But what happens when, after 180 minutes of action, the aggregated score is still connected? The answer has evolved in recent years and a new layer of drama added to the competition.

But before we respond, let's first look at the current situation of the UCL -Play -offs after the first legs:

What happened to the 'Going away' line?

For decades, the road target rule was the Go-Tie Tiebreaker in the Champions League. If the aggregated score was the same after two legs, the team that scored more goals on the peat of their opponent would progress. It was a rule that often led to tense, tactical fights, with teams carefully balancing a balance between attack and defense.

But in 2021 UEFA decided to shake things up. Starting with the 2021-2022 season, the rule of road rule was abolished. Critics had long argued that the rule was outdated and played unfair favorite teams. UEFA's decision was intended to create a fairer, more exciting competition – and that is exactly that.

Extra time and punishment

So what happens now if the aggregated score is bound after two legs? The answer is simple: we go into extra time. The match extends to two halves of 15 minutes and an immediate change in between, both teams get 30 minutes to break the impasse. If the score remains after extra time level, the game is determined by a penalty shootout.

The removal of the road goal rule has largely changed the way in which teams are approached. Without the safety net of road goals, competitions are often more open and attacking, with both parties that insist on a decisive result. The new format ensures that each goal counts the same amount, regardless of where it is scored.