UEFA to discuss Champions League change amid Arsenal fixture criticism | OneFootball

UEFA are set to discuss a change to the Champions League system amid criticism of Arsenal’s consecutive second-leg away draws, according to a report.

Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images

The Daily Mail report that UEFA chiefs are will discuss a change to the Champions League seeding system for next season, potentially benefitting clubs like Arsenal who finish high up in the League Phase table.

As it stands, the top-eight finishers are rewarded by playing the second leg of their last-16 tie at home. However, the subsequent rounds have the venue of the first and second legs determined by a random draw.

Arsenal have suffered from that decision, playing their Champions League quarter-final second leg away from home against Real Madrid despite finishing eight places above their opponents in the League Phase.

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

If Arsenal can make it through to the semi-finals by avoiding a heavy defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Gunners will then play against Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite PSG finishing 15th, lower than both Arsenal and Real Madrid, they’ll have home advantage in the second leg regardless of their opponent.

Criticism of the format has led UEFA to consider changing the seeding rules for next season, with a growing belief that only seeding second legs at the last-16 stage doesn’t give enough of a reward to performances in the League Phase.

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

It seems like a straightforward change to make. The higher seed should get the home second leg throughout the tournament, giving some extra motivation for those League Phase fixtures.

For this season, Arsenal will just have to get a result away to Real Madrid and then try to have a similarly impressive first leg at home to PSG.