The Europa League has reached its semi-final stage, with Arsenal and Manchester United flying the flag for Premier League clubs.
While it was missing from the latter stages of last year’s competition, a crucial element of the two-legged ties has returned – the dramatic potential of the away goals rule.
The rules, however, can be confusing for the uninitiated. Here’s how they work, and if they’re affected by some of this year’s Europa League knockout fixtures being played at neutral European venues.
How does the away goals rule work?
Although one might often hear the phrase “away goals count double” in the Europa League, this isn’t technically true.
Instead, in every one of the two-legged knockout rounds up to the final, if the sides are level on goals after 180 minutes, the team which has scored more goals away from home qualifies for the next round.
So, if the two legs have ended in a 1-1 draw and a 2-2 draw – leaving the sides level on 3-3 – the side to progress will be the away team in the game which finished 2-2.
If the teams have scored an equal number of away goals, then the match continues into a period of extra-time comprising two 15-minute halves.
During extra-time, away goals count in exactly the same way – so if both sides have scored the same number of goals in the half-hour, the away team will progress.
It’s all covered in Article 19 of Uefa’s official rules and regulations for the competition:
Article 19.01
For matches played under the knockout system, if the two teams involved in a tie score the same number of goals over the two legs, the team which scores more away goals qualifies for the next stage.
If this procedure does not produce a result, i.e. if both teams score the same number of goals at home and away, two 15-minute periods of extra time are played at the end of the second leg.
If both teams score the same number of goals during extra time, away goals count double (i.e. the visiting team qualifies for the next stage).
If no goals are scored during extra time, kicks from the penalty mark determine which team qualifies for the next stage.
Covid travel restrictions have meant that some European ties involving English sides have been moved to neutral venues this season.
Although both sides will technically be contesting such fixtures away from their home stadiums the rule remains unchanged, which are still be decided by “away goals” if they are level after 180 minutes.
How do away goals work in other competitions?
The away goals rule applies to Uefa’s Champions League in exactly the same way as it does the Europa League.
In England, it was introduced to the League Cup for the 1980-81 season. Until then all ties, even if played over two legs, would be replayed if the aggregate scores were level after 180 minutes.
However, in 2018/19 both away goals and extra-time were abolished, with all knock-out ties – including the semi-finals, the only round to be played across two legs – going straight to a penalty shoot-out if the scores are level.
The rule change means that no domestic competition in England now employs the away goals rule.
FA Cup ties go to a replay in the event of a draw, and if the scores are level after 90 minutes in the rematch extra-time and then penalties are employed. The same is true if the EFL Cup semi-finals, which are played over two legs, finish level on aggregate.
What happened last year?
Due to time constraints in playing the final rounds of last season’s Europa League, all fixtures from the quarter-final onwards were played over one leg, with 30 minutes of extra time and a penalty shoot out used to decide the winner on the night if required.
Obviously, this would have caused some consternation if teams were playing at their home stadiums, even if the matches were taking place behind closed doors.
Instead, the fixtures were played in four German cities: Cologne, Duisburg, Dusseldorg and Gelsenkirchen, with the final at Cologne’s Stadion Koln.
Could the away goals rule be scrapped?
Although it can lead to moments of huge drama, the away goals rule does have its critics.
In 2015, Arsene Wenger (whose Arsenal side had just been eliminated by Monaco on away goals), suggested that the rule was out of date, saying: “The rule was created in the 1960s and the weight of the away goal is too great today.”
He subsequently received the backing of many of Europe’s top managers when he joined a meeting including the likes of Jose Mourinho, his Gunners successor Unai Emery and Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri.
The coaches requested that Uefa review use of the rule, arguing that it scared home teams into negative tactics to avoid conceding as much as encouraging positivity from the visitors.
Giorgio Marchetti, the governing body’s deputy general secretary, acknowledged: “The coaches think that scoring goals away is not as difficult as it was in the past. They think the rule should be reviewed and that’s what we will do.”
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3aNmdwq
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