The countdown to the 2025–26 Champions League is on, with anticipation building ahead of the league phase of Europe’s most prestigious club competition. Thirty-six teams will battle through eight fixtures each in the new league format, aiming to secure a coveted place in the knockout rounds, MySportDab Reports.
While the format remains largely unchanged from last season’s introduction of the expanded “Swiss-style” league phase, UEFA has confirmed a significant adjustment to the rules for the knockout stage — one that could heavily influence who reaches the final in Budapest next May.
In previous seasons, the host of the second leg in the quarterfinals and semifinals was determined by a random draw. But starting this year, home advantage in the decisive second leg will be based on league-phase performance.
The top four finishers will be guaranteed to play their quarterfinal second legs at home, while the top two will also secure that privilege in the semifinals — should they advance that far.
However, the rule also contains a twist. If a top-seeded team is eliminated, their conquerors will inherit their seeding position for the remainder of the bracket.
For example, last season’s 15th-placed Paris Saint-Germain knocked out league leaders Liverpool in the last 16. Under the new system, PSG would have claimed Liverpool’s privilege and played both their quarterfinal and semifinal second legs at home.
UEFA clarified the regulation in its competition handbook: “Seeded teams, i.e. teams ranked 1 to 4 after the league phase, play the return leg at home in the quarter-finals, and teams ranked 1 and 2 also play the return leg of the semi-finals at home. If a seeded team is beaten, the team that eliminates them takes over their seeding position.”
The change comes after complaints from both Arsenal and Barcelona, who felt disadvantaged in last season’s knockout phase.
Arsenal, despite finishing well above PSG in the league phase, were forced to play their semifinal second leg in Paris. Barcelona, meanwhile, faced the same issue, losing away second legs to Dortmund and Inter after strong league-phase performances.
