Atletico Madrid face Manchester United in the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday evening, facing into what looks like a very finely balanced tie. The two sides will meet in the Metropolitano Stadium, with the home side as slight favourites.
Despite winning La Liga last season, Atletico have struggled this season and lie in fifth position in the league. Manchester United find themselves in a quite a similar position league-wise and have also been struggling for consistency.
No Away Goals Rule In 2021/22 Champions League
Before the beginning of this season’s Champions League, it was announced that the away goals rule would be scrapped. This may prove to be particularly tough on a struggling Atletico side who have benefitted greatly from the rule in the past.
Simeone’s defensive set-up, especially when playing at home, is incredibly difficult to break down and makes it hard for travelling teams to snatch an away goal for themselves. While most sides will push for goals at their own stadium, over last decade the Spanish club have been happy to keep both legs low scoring and attempt to put themselves in the driving seat by stealing a goal away from home.
However, with this rule now scrapped, Simeone and Atleti may have to alter their tactics and be slightly more adventurous in their approach.
Over the past few years there have been many incidences of them using the away goals rule to their advantage.
In 2020 they knocked holders Champions League holders Liverpool out in the round of 16. After preventing Liverpool from getting an away goal, and then securing one themselves at Anfield, it meant that Liverpool were forced to push for two goals to go through.
In the 2017, they knocked Leicester out in similar fashion, not conceding at home before nabbing an away goal in the second leg.
In 2016, they held Barcelona and Bayern Munich goalless at home, in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively. They scored away goals in both ties forcing both teams to push for goals, which played right into Atletico’s hands.
While Atletico are still favourites to go through over Manchester United, the scrapping of the away goals rule may turn out to be a saving grace for United. They could take a 0-0 draw back to Old Trafford knowing that a goal from the visitors in the second leg would not be a potentially fatal blow.
Many have been critical of UEFA's decision to remove the away goal rule in the Champions League, but Ralf Rangnick might be glad of it on this occasion.
SEE ALSO: Champions League Form Guide: Predictions For Wednesday's Last-16 Ties
