UEFA to make Champions League rule change that could impact Newcastle United next season
UEFA are reportedly set to make a change the the Champions League format next season, meaning finishing higher in the league stage of the competition is more beneficial.
UEFA is said to be considering a rule alteration for the forthcoming Champions League season, just a year after the competition's format was revamped. This change would see clubs rewarded more significantly for securing higher positions in the group stage.
As per German publication Bild, teams that secure a spot within the top eight league positions, thereby automatically qualifying for the knockout phase, will reap benefits not only in the round of 16 but also in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Under the existing rules, teams that automatically qualify for the round of 16 are paired with lower-ranked teams with the second leg being at home. However, there was no such advantage extended into the quarter-final stage of the competition.
Newcastle United will be keeping a close eye on developments, having secured their place in next year's competition via a fifth place finish in the Premier League.
The changes reportedly come after Arsenal reportedly voiced criticism of the format which saw them travel to Real Madrid for the second leg of their quarter-final clash despite finishing eight places ahead of Real Madrid in the league stage.
Arsenal did however come out as 5-1 aggregate winners, before falling to defeat against Paris Saint-Germain at the semi-final stage.
Bild reports that the UEFA club competitions committee agreed on this proposed change ahead of the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter on Saturday evening. The final approval of this amendment is 'considered a formality.'
Additional alterations, such as proceeding directly to penalty shootouts post the 90-minute mark instead of extra time, and preventing two clubs from the same nation from facing off until the competition's later stages, were also deliberated. However, no resolution was reached regarding their introduction in the forthcoming season.
Here at ChronicleLive, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Newcastle United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest NUFC news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.
And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Everything is Black and White podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.