UEFA to make rule change to Champions League following PSG victory just one year after new format introduced

UEFA are reportedly considering a huge rule change following the conclusion of the 2024/25 Champions League.

Paris Saint-Germain reigned supreme and became only the second French team - after Marseille - to win the competition with a 5-0 win against Inter Milan in Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena in Germany.

19-year-old Desire Doue produced two goals and an assist, which helped him pick up the Player of the Match award, while Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and fellow teenager Senny Mayulu also got on the scoresheet.

After they knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League at the round of 16 stage, Luis Enrique’s side became many people’s favourites.

However, the Ligue 1 champions almost missed out on qualification for the knock out stage.

PSG won the UEFA Champions League (Credit:Getty)

PSG finished 15^th in the 36-team group phase and were forced to take part in a play-off to ensure their progression to the round of 16.

They brushed aside Brest with ease, winning 10-0 on aggregate. However, despite their lowly league phase position, still saw themselves handed the advantage of playing their semi-final second leg against Arsenal at their home stadium of the Parc des Princes.

Currently, home advantage is decided by a random draw after the round of 16 due to UEFA's preference for an 'open draw’, meaning sides who performed better in the group stage may have to play at home during the quarter-final and semi-final first leg.

But this could be set to change.

UEFA could be set to make huge changes (Credit:Getty)

Arsenal reportedly voiced their concerns, and according to German outlet BILD “UEFA is changing the format: Clubs that finished among the top eight teams in the league table after the league phase and thus qualified directly for the round of 16 will receive additional rewards in the future: they will generally play second legs of the knockout rounds against lower-ranked teams at home. This previously only applied to the round of 16”.

Final approval by the UEFA Executive Committee is considered a formality.

Despite boasting second-leg home advantage during their semi-final clash, PSG travelled to Liverpool's Anfield and Aston Villa's Villa Park for second legs en route to their maiden European triumph.

The 2025/26 Champions League group phase is set to get underway on September 16.