I miss the away goals rule in the Champions League

Now, I understand why the away goals rule was a good thing

In 1965, UEFA introduced the away goals rule for the Cup Winners’ Cup before being added to the European Cup two years later. Various competitions around the globe subsequently adapted the away goals rule over the years that followed.

The rule was designed to prevent teams from playing defensive football, resulting in dull, boring, and uninteresting fixtures. There was a belief that away teams would shut up shop and play defensively on the road. Therefore, the away goals counting as double would encourage teams to attack on their travels.

The away goals rule essentially doubled the value of each away goal scored in case the aggregate score was level in knockout fixtures. The rule was designed to decide the winner of a knockout tie, similar to extra time and penalties.

If the aggregate score was level after two matches — home and away — the away goals would settle the tie if possible. This also prevented teams from playing addition minutes in extra time.

For decades fans and the football media called for the end of the away goals rule. Many saw it as unfair, rewarding the away team the win in close fixtures thanks to getting a goal. There was always the chance the away team would nick a goal then shut up shop.

The away goals rule provided some classic encounters in the Champions League, however. In 2009, there was the controversial 1-1 draw between Chelsea and Barcelona. The match is most remembered for the awful refereeing of Tom Henning Ovrebo. The Norwegian’s performance is still under suspicion of the match being fixed.

Tottenham Hotspur benefitted from the away goals rule in 2019 to reach the Champions League final. Spurs came from behind to draw 3-3 with Ajax

Finally, in 2021, the away goals rule was eliminated by UEFA for its various cup competitions. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin stated that the rule dissuaded home teams from playing offensive, attacking football. His announcement was the opposite of what the rule was introduced for. Home teams were now the ones shutting up shop.

I was one of the football fans that wanted the rule to be scrapped for years. It felt outdated and gave an unjustified advantage to the road teams — if they were able to score in the away leg.

The 2024-25 season is the fourth season without the away goals rule in European club competitions. Having had no away goals rule for three full seasons of club competitions, I am now among the belief that knockout ties in UEFA competitions lack a little bit of excitement without the old rule.

The knockout phases of the Champions League, especially, have lost some of their edge. Yes, the knockout ties are fairer, but some of the entertainment value of the fixtures left with the axing of the old-school rule.

In some ways, the first leg of European knockout ties are a bit meaningless. There is a lack of feeling that the tie could suddenly change in a moment’s notice giving one of the two teams a dramatic win.

Of course, removing the away goals rule takes away an artificial element to the tie. The old rule felt like something youth leagues use to determine winners and not something professional football should use.

Despite the end of the rule, its departure took some of the excitement of the knockout phase of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League away. I never thought I’d say it, but I miss the away goals rule.