The 2024-25 UEFA season launched a revamped 36-team format, changing the normal group stage with a single league part. Nonetheless, issues raised by golf equipment like have prompted UEFA to contemplate changes to the knockout stage construction for the 2025-26 marketing campaign, in response to sources near European soccer’s governing physique.
Changes to their Signature Competitors
Within the present format, the league part determines seeding for the knockout rounds. The highest eight groups earn a bye to the spherical of 16, the place they face play-off winners and host the second leg at dwelling. Groups ranked ninth to twenty fourth compete in a two-legged play-off to achieve the final 16. Past the spherical of 16, nonetheless, the draw turns into totally randomized, eradicating the seeding benefit for higher-ranked groups within the quarter-finals and semi-finals. This has led to conditions the place prime performers lose dwelling benefit in essential second legs.
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, ending third within the league part with 17 factors, benefited from dwelling benefit within the second leg of their spherical of 16 tie towards PSV Eindhoven, securing a 2-1 mixture victory. Nonetheless, within the quarter-finals towards Actual Madrid, they have been drawn to play the primary leg at dwelling, shedding 1-0 on the Emirates earlier than a 2-1 defeat in Madrid ended their marketing campaign. Equally, , who positioned second with 18 factors, hosted Borussia Dortmund within the first leg of their quarter-final, drawing 2-2, however fell 3-1 in Germany, exiting the competitors.
“Groups who end larger deserve some safety within the later levels”
The randomized draw has sparked debate amongst golf equipment and followers. Traditionally, UEFA’s seeding system rewarded group stage efficiency with favorable knockout attracts, together with second-leg dwelling benefit. The brand new format’s unpredictability, whereas including pleasure, has annoyed golf equipment who excelled within the league part solely to face harder away legs later. ’s sporting director, Edu Gaspar, publicly questioned the equity of the system in a March 2025 interview with Sky Sports activities, arguing that “groups who end larger deserve some safety within the later levels.”
Raphinha could surprise – UEFA has bought it proper?Getty Photos
UEFA has not confirmed particular adjustments however is reportedly reviewing knowledge from the 2024-25 season. Potential tweaks may embody reinstating seeding advantages for quarter-finals and semi-finals or adjusting the draw to prioritize second-leg dwelling benefit for top-ranked groups. Any adjustments would require approval from UEFA’s Membership Competitions Committee, which incorporates representatives from prime European golf equipment.
UEFA is anticipated to announce selections earlier than the 2025-26 season draw
The present format has elevated competitiveness, with 72% of league part matches determined by two targets or fewer, per UEFA’s 2025 season report. Nonetheless, balancing equity for top performers with the drama of open attracts stays a problem. UEFA is anticipated to announce selections earlier than the 2025-26 season attract August.
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