UEFA to make Champions League change as Arsenal clash with Real Madrid
UEFA is likely to make a major rule change ahead of next season’s Champions League.
This season, a 36-team league phase was introduced, in a revamped format.
It saw all the sides ranked in the same group rather than separate ones.
The top eight clubs progressed straight into the last 16, while the next 16 teams faced each other in the play-offs for a spot in the next round.
The current rules stipulate that the teams in the top eight are guaranteed to play the second leg of their last 16 matches at home.
However, that rule does not apply when it gets to the quarter-finals or semi-finals.
And there has been some criticism over the fact that Arsenal will play the second leg of their clash with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
The Gunners finished third in the league table, while Madrid ended up in 11th.
But according to the Daily Mail, UEFA will deliberate on whether they should change that next season.
It is claimed that there is a ‘growing belief’ that only having ceded second legs for the last 16 matches is not enough of a reward for clubs who starred in the league phase.
UEFA to make Champions League change as Arsenal clash with Real Madrid
