By UEFA has addressed key questions regarding how standings will be determined in the new 36-team league phase of the Champions League, especially when teams finish with the same number of points.
In a detailed release titled “Champions League League Phase Standings: How Teams Level on Points Are Separated,” UEFA outlined the criteria for deciding which clubs advance, face play-offs, or are eliminated. This season marks a major change from the traditional group stage to a league format, where each team plays eight matches, with all 36 teams ranked in a single table.
The top eight teams will automatically qualify for the Round of 16, while teams finishing 9th to 24th will enter play-offs. Teams ranked 25th to 36th will be eliminated.
But what happens if teams finish with the same points? UEFA has provided a breakdown of tie-breaking criteria, starting with goal difference and goals scored, and extending to more specific factors like away wins and disciplinary records. If all else fails, an alphabetical order based on abbreviated team names will decide the final standings.
As the league phase unfolds, UEFA’s guidelines aim to provide clarity and transparency in determining rankings. According to AfrikTimes Online, Matchday 3 of the Champions League is scheduled for October 22 and 23, 2024.
In an earlier analysis after Matchday 2, AfrikTimes shared updates on each team’s position.
How does the league phase work? UEFA’s statement explains: “In the new league phase of the UEFA Champions League, 36 teams compete in a single league. The top eight teams at the end of the eight-match league phase advance to the Round of 16. Teams ranked 9th to 24th qualify for play-offs, while teams ranked 25th to 36th are eliminated.”
What happens if teams are tied on points? During the league phase, tied teams are separated using the following criteria, as per Article 18 of the competition regulations:
- Superior goal difference
- Higher number of goals scored
- Higher number of away goals scored
- Higher number of wins
- Higher number of away wins
If teams are still level after applying these criteria, they will be ranked alphabetically based on their abbreviated names.
At the end of the league phase, if two or more teams are still tied on points, additional criteria are applied:
- Superior goal difference
- Higher number of goals scored
- Higher number of away goals scored
- Higher number of wins
- Higher number of away wins
- Higher points obtained collectively by league phase opponents
- Superior collective goal difference of league phase opponents
- Higher number of goals scored collectively by league phase opponents
- Lower disciplinary points (based on yellow and red cards received)
- Higher club coefficient
