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[MyDaily = Reporter Kim Jong-guk] Bayern Munich, coming off a high-scoring Champions League thriller with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) that ended in defeat, expressed frustration over recent UEFA rule changes.
Bayern fell 4-5 in the first leg of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League semifinal in Paris on April 29. The two sides traded strikes from the opening whistle, producing the first instance in Champions League semifinal history of five goals being scored in the first half alone. The match also set the record for the most goals in a single Champions League semifinal. Bayern trailed 2-5 after conceding five goals early, staged a fierce second-half comeback, but ultimately came up one goal short.
Germany’s Bild reported on the 30th that Bayern defender Jonathan Tah lamented the abolition of the away-goals rule. Tah pointed out that Bayern netted four times in Paris, so under the old away-goals system the return leg at the Allianz Arena would have put them in a much stronger position. Under the previous rule, a 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 or 4-3 win at home would have been enough to advance. With the current regulations, Tah said, Bayern must win by two goals within 90 minutes at home to secure a spot in the final. Bild noted that UEFA introduced the away-goals rule in 1965 and kept it for more than 50 years before scrapping it in 2021.
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said the decision to remove the away-goals rule came after discussions at several UEFA meetings in recent years. Many managers, fans and players questioned the rule’s fairness and favored its abolition, he said. Čeferin argued the rule had become counterproductive to its original intent, often discouraging home teams in first legs from attacking for fear of conceding a decisive away goal. He also noted fairness concerns in extra time, where an away goal could force the home side into a position where they’d effectively need to score twice.
Bayern coach Kompany told Sky Germany ahead of the second leg, “Something special can always happen at our home, the Allianz Arena. The 75,000 fans will fill the stadium and create an incredible atmosphere.” He added, “When we trailed 2-5 after the first leg, I wasn’t even sure we’d play a second leg, but we never gave up. We’re looking forward to facing PSG at home.”
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