The away goals rule has been abolished in the Champions League
The most exciting stage of the Champions League is approaching. Zamin.uz reported on this.
The tournament, which boasts a total audience of 120 million viewers, will feature 606 teams. Starting from March 25, the first legs of the quarterfinals will be played.
Although the tournament has moved to a new format, the main rules have remained unchanged. The six teams will face each other twice, and most importantly, the away goals rule has been abolished.
This means every minute carries double significance, and no one can rely on an away goal to secure victory. Against this backdrop, one of the biggest fixtures will be the duel between Real Madrid and Manchester City.
Many have already begun to refer to this matchup as a Champions League classic. The match will take place on the night of March 12 at 01:00 and can be watched live on television.
The chances are evenly matched, standing at 50-50 percent. In six of the last seven seasons, these two giants have met at various stages.
Only in the 20th and 21st seasons did fans not witness this fixture. It would be no exaggeration to say that their group stage encounter in the current season served as compensation, as it was then that Pep Guardiola's pupils returned from Madrid with a 2-1 victory.
However, the situation has changed even since that match. Real Madrid dismissed Xabi Alonso and handed the reins of the team to Álvaro Arbeloa.
City, on the other hand, further strengthened its squad in winter with two major additions: Semenyo and Guehi. Notably, since Semenyo was not registered for the group stage, he could not play in the Champions League until now, and his debut is expected precisely against Real Madrid.
This represents a new weapon in the knockout phase. Uzbek defender Abduqodir Husanov also made his Champions League debut against Real Madrid, leaving a strong impression.
Guardiola may once again place his trust in him, especially as speed and positional sense are highly valuable under such immense tempo and pressure. Why is it difficult to predict this time?
Previously, the picture was much clearer: City controlled the ball and imposed its style, while Real Madrid punished opponents with individual skill and swift counterattacks. However, the current City is somewhat different, having learned to adapt to opponents and alter the match scenario.
At Real Madrid, it is not yet fully clear what style has solidified under Arbeloa. Therefore, in this match, plans will truly unfold only after the referee blows his whistle.
The conclusion is simple: fans are in for a clash full of nerves and tactics where the tempo will not remain constant, and balance may shift several times during the game. The 50-50 assessment is not unfounded, as in this matchup, small details can lead to major results.
Source: One.uz
