Why UEFA scrapped the Champions League away goal rule and how Manchester United have been impacted in the past

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The Champions League knockout stages resume this week and Manchester United will take part for the first time since 2019.

The upcoming last 16 clashes with Atletico Madrid have a different feel, because the away goals rule has been scrapped.

Why the away goals rule was scrapped

The decision was made last summer by UEFA and followed a ‘broad consultation process’, following a vote.

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin explained the decision, stating that it was felt the rule was no longer serving it’s original intentions.

Čeferin told UEFA’s website: “The impact of the rule now runs counter to its original purpose as, in fact, it now dissuades home teams – especially in first legs – from attacking, because they fear conceding a goal that would give their opponents a crucial advantage. There is also criticism of the unfairness, especially in extra time, of obliging the home team to score twice when the away team has scored.”

“It is fair to say that home advantage is nowadays no longer as significant as it once was.

“Taking into consideration the consistency across Europe in terms of styles of play, and many different factors which have led to a decline in home advantage, the UEFA Executive Committee has taken the correct decision in adopting the view that it is no longer appropriate for an away goal to carry more weight than one scored at home.”

How United have been impacted by away goals rule

The decision means United can play a little less cautiously at home, no longer having to fear the double impact of conceding a goal at Old Trafford.

There have been three times in the Champions League era in which United have either qualified or been knocked out as a direct result of the away goals rule.

1998: United’s 0-0 draw at Monaco was followed up by a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, after David Trezeguet scored for the visitors. An equaliser from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was not enough for United to progress past the quarter-finals. Instead of the tie going to extra-time, United went out on the away goals rule.

2002: A poor first leg against Bayer Leverkusen cost Manchester United in the Champions League semi-finals. A Ruud van Nistelrooy brace at Old Trafford was cancelled out by the team conceding twice and drawing 2-2.

It meant the Roy Keane’s goal in the 1-1 second leg in Germany was not enough and United bowed out of the competition on away goals, and missed out on a final at Hampden against Real Madrid.

2019: The away goals rule finally turned in Manchester United’s favour in the last 16 clash against Paris Saint-Germain.

After losing the first leg 2-0 at Old Trafford, United won 3-1 in Paris in a dramatic game which saw Romelu Lukaku score twice before Marcus Rashford scored an injury-time penalty, to send United through on away goals.