Is the Champions League group stage decided on goal difference or head-to-head? (2024)

THE Champions League group stage continues tonight with all eyes on Europe's elite competition.

For the English teams, Chelsea head to Austria to face RB Salzburg, with everything to play for in Group E, while Manchester City have sealed qualification in Group G as they face Erling Haaland's old club Borussia Dortmund.

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Tottenham are in a tight Group D also, with the four teams separated by three points with two games to go, but all eyes will be on Inter Milan and Barcelona.

The Catalan giants face Bayern Munich in Bavaria, as Robert Lewandowski returns to the site of his former goalscoring exploits.

Groups are expected to finish in typically tight fashion, but only 16 teams can reach the knockout stages of the competition.

So what happens if teams finish on the same number of points in the group?

We've got all the answers for you.

How are teams that finish level on points sorted in the Champions League?

Teams that finish level on points in the Champions League group stage are sorted by the following criteria.

Unlike the Premier League - which uses goal difference when teams are tied on points - the Champions League separates the teams on head-to-head points among the two fixtures between the sides.

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. Away goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Away goals scored in all group matches;
  8. Wins in all group matches;
  9. Away wins in all group matches;
  10. Disciplinary points (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points);
  11. UEFA club coefficient.
Is the Champions League group stage decided on goal difference or head-to-head? (2024)

FAQs

Is the Champions League group stage decided on goal difference or head-to-head? ›

Teams that finish level on points in the Champions League group stage are sorted by the following criteria. Unlike the Premier League - which uses goal difference when teams are tied on points - the Champions League separates the teams on head-to-head points among the two fixtures between the sides.

Does goal difference matter in Champions League group stage? ›

Goal difference in the group is now the second tie-breaker, followed by the total number of goals scored.

How is Champions League group stage decided? ›

The tournament proper begins with a group stage of 32 teams, divided into eight groups of four. The draw to determine which teams go into each group is seeded based on teams' performance in UEFA competitions, and no group may contain more than one club from each nation.

Does head-to-head count in UCL group stage? ›

Teams that finish level on points after their six Champions League group stage games are first determined by head-to-head points in the fixtures between the two sides. This is different to the Premier League, which uses goal difference to separate sides when they are tied on the same number of points.

What is the group stage format for the Champions League? ›

The new format will get rid of the current group stage, where 32 teams compete in eight groups of four, and replace this with one giant league of 36 teams. Rather than six group stage games, teams will play eight matches against teams of varying abilities.

Is the goal difference head to head in the Champions League? ›

The third tiebreaker is goals scored in head-to-head games. If teams are still tied after these measures, the next tiebreaker is goal differential in the group stage as a whole. Chances are, this will end the tie. If this doesn't end the tie, the next tiebreaker is goals scored in all group stage matches.

Does goal difference still count in Champions League? ›

The away goals rule in the Champions League has been scrapped and teams in Europe now have to approach their two-legged knockout matches with different strategies. The rule had been in place since 1965, but it changed at the beginning of the 2021/22 season.

What if 2 teams have same points and goal difference in Champions League? ›

If two or more teams' total points scored and goal differences are both equal, then often goals scored is used as a further tiebreaker, with the team scoring the most goals winning.

What happens if there is a tie in Champions League group stage? ›

If two or more teams in a group end on the same points after their quota of six matches, UEFA has a system of tie-breakers to separate the teams in case of such a scenario.

Why is Liverpool not in the Champions League? ›

Liverpool finished no higher than sixth in the Premier League during the next two seasons, thus failing to qualify for European competition.

What happens if you finish 3rd in UCL group stage? ›

- UCL round-of-16 draw: Seedings, date, details

The top two teams in each group qualify for the round of 16, the third-placed clubs drop into the Europa League knockout playoff round, and those who finish bottom are eliminated.

What happens if a top 4 team wins UCL? ›

If a club win the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League and finish in the top four, their qualification for the UCL through their league position is not transferred to another team.

What is head to head in football Champions League? ›

In the Champions League when teams finish level on points in the qualifying group the head-to-head record is used. So, for example if team A beats team B at home and then draws away Team A will finish above Team B in the table.

What is the new format for Champions League 2024? ›

This will be the first season of UEFA Champions League played under a new format where in the League phase each team plays eight games against different opponents but all 36 teams are ranked in a joint league. Allianz Arena in Munich will host the final.

Who won Champions League most? ›

What is the group stage tournament format? ›

Group Stage Tournaments

A group stage format is where there is a stage with a number of groups / divisions. each team in the groups plays all other teams once or twice and then the teams advance to a knockout phase.

What is the tiebreaker for the Champions League group stage? ›

Teams play each other twice in the group stage, so there's a chance one team has the advantage here. If teams are tied on head-to-head points, the next tiebreaker is head-to-head goal differential. Chances are if the teams are tied on points, they are going to be tied on goal differential as well.

What happens if two teams have the same points in UCL group stage? ›

If two or more teams in a group end on the same points after their quota of six matches, UEFA has a system of tie-breakers to separate the teams in case of such a scenario.

What is the tiebreaker in the Champions League group? ›

The full list of UEFA Champions League group stage tiebreakers follow below as per the official tournament regulations: Points obtained in group matches played among teams in question. Superior goal difference from group matches played among teams in question. Goals scored in group matches played among teams in ...

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