Dear managers,

This week we decided to dedicate an article to the Champions League competition in Top Eleven. Each season we receive a lot of requests from managers who question us about the ranking system of the Champions League competition.

So what are the Tie Breaking criterias of the Champions League in Top Eleven ? And how do they work?

The Champions League in Top Eleven uses the UEFA Champions League rules. Each stage produces a winner who progresses to the next stage of the competition. At the end of the competition, only one team is left: the winner of the Champions League.

The winner of each stage and the position of each team in the rankings is determined by the following:

1. Higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question;

2. Higher goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question;

3. Higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question;

4. Higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question;

5. If, after applying criteria 1) to 4) to several teams, two teams still have an equal ranking, criteria 1) to 4) are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the two teams in question to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 6) and 7) apply;

6. Higher goal difference from all group matches played;

7. Higher number of goals scored from all group matches played;

Let’s apply this rule to an example:

Team A and Team B are both competing against each other in the same group of the Champions League.

– Both Team have the same amount of points – 10

– Team A has a 12:11 goal difference and Team B has a 8:5 goal difference.

– In match 1 Team B played at home and won 3:1.

– In match 2, Team A played at home and won 2:0.

Which team should be placed higher on the ranking table?

According to the Champions League’s tie breaking rules, team A is ranked the highest.

– They both have the same number of points

– The goal difference for Team A and Team B is the same

BUT

– Team A scored 1 goal during match 1 (on the away pitch) and Team B didn’t score any goal during their match 2 (no goal scored on the away pitch).

This one away goal is the reason Team A is ranked higher than Team B.

Now, what happens when 3 teams have the same number of points?

Let’s take another example: 4 teams are competing in the same group:

W  D  L  Gf  Ga  Pt

Team A   4   1  1   11   8   13

Team B   2   1   3   8    9    7

Team C   2   1   3   9    8    7

Team D   2  1   3   8   11   7

W – Wins

D – draws

L – loses

Gf – Scored goals

Ga – Conceded goals

Pt – total number of points

Team B, Team C and Team D have the same number of points – 7. Each match they played against each other must be checked here:

Team B 3 – 1 Team D

Team C 0 – 1 Team B

Team D 1 – 0 Team C

Team C 4 – 1 Team D

Team D 2 – 2 Team B

Team B 0 – 2 Team C

Which gives us:

               W  D  L  Gf  Ga  Pt

Team B   2   1   1   6    5    7

Team C   2    0  2   6    3    6

Team D   1    1  2   5    9    4

Team B has obtained the most points from all the matches played among these 3 teams, which is why Team B will be placed higher than Team C and D, even though Team C has a better goal difference.

We hope to have clarified the subject of the Champions League ranking system and that this article helped you understand the Away Goal rule.

And remember, if you still have any questions or concerns, you can contact us via Twitter @TopElevenHelp.

Good luck!

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