How 3 Champions League rules changes could affect Celtic and...

This year saw the launch of the new format, and UEFA may already be prepared to make significant changes to the competition.

Celtic enjoyed a fantastic debut season in the recently revamped Champions League.

Additionally, UEFA may be ready to make major format changes after just one season.

After finishing in the top 24 teams from the new 36-team league phase, Brendan Rodgers and his squad secured a

spot in the competition’s knockout stage and were given the opportunity to play against German powerhouse Bayern

Munich.

The Scottish champions led 1-0 on the evening and 2-2 overall, and the Bundesliga heavyweights needed a last-

minute equaliser in Munich to crush Celtic’s hearts. Vincent Kompany’s team saved the match at the last second.

Although they don’t have the luxury of straight qualification like they did the previous season, Celtic will be

desperate to join the big boys of Europe once again. To do so, they must make it through one round safely.

Competition Rangers lost to Dynamo Kiev in the qualifying stages, and if they place second, they will once more have

to overcome several obstacles to earn the large cash payout and a seat in the actual Champions League.

However, UEFA is already considering THREE significant modifications that will be reviewed before the

tournament’s next edition, according to German tabloid Bild.

The first is getting rid of extra-time in the knockout rounds and heading straight for a penalty shootout. This would

mean that in the events of a draw, the winner could be determined directly from the spot. Rather than an additional

30 minutes of action.

The second consideration is the return leg home advantage. Clubs finishing in the top eight after the league phase got

rewarded with direct entry to the last 16 and having the second leg at their home ground.

It could come with the further incentive of the return games for their quarter-final and semi-final matches against

lower-ranked teams also at home. This current rule only applies in the last 16.

The reinstatement of country protection brings us to the third and last point. At the moment, teams in the same

league are unable to play one another during the league phase.

Therefore, Celtic and Rangers would not face one another at that point if they both qualified for the Champions

League.

Clubs might be placed with PSG against Brest, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen against each other, and Real

Madrid and Atletico against each other in the play-off round and round of 16.

Early games are reportedly unappealing to viewers and commentators.

Clubs were protected by the previous format until the quarterfinals, and this could reappear.

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