UEFA has confirmed the new seeding regulations for the Champions League knockout rounds -- controversially not giving home advantage purely based upon League Phase placing.
It was revealed in May that the rules would be altered from this season, with the venue of the second leg based upon merit rather than a random draw.
It was expected that UEFA would determine the team which plays at home in the return leg of the quarterfinals and semifinals based upon the final League Phase positions of the teams involved in the tie.
For instance, a team in 3rd would be at home to 15th for the return leg. However, UEFA has instead decided to give the priority only to the teams who finished in positions 1-4 -- or the clubs who knock them out.
Teams ranked 1-4 are guaranteed to be at home second leg in the round of 16 and quarterfinals -- if they get there. Teams ranked 1-2 are also sure of home priority in the semifinals.
Arsenal were annoyed that they had to play the second leg of their Champions League semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain in France last season, even though the Gunners had been placed 3rd in the League Phase and PSG 15th.
However, this change to the regulations would have been of no benefit to Arsenal. Because PSG knocked out No. 1-ranked Liverpool in the round of 16, the Ligue 1 side would "win" the home priority off Liverpool along with the tie. So PSG, despite being 15th, would be then guaranteed a home second leg in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
It means that if the same were to happen next season, Arsenal would still have to play the second leg away. It provides less incentive to get a higher placing inside the top eight, and gives the chance for a team outside the top places to get the priority seeding.
UEFA's decision not to re-rank each tie based only upon League Phase placings creates an imbalance, an additional split in the knockout bracket. It puts the teams who finish third or fourth at a disadvantage, because it is now impossible for either be at home in the second leg of a semifinal.
Only the teams who finish in the following positions can get a home second leg in the semifinal: first, second, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th.
It is a marked difference from how most U.S. sports re-rank seedings during their playoff schedules.
The rule change would have created a different semifinal order for Barcelona (second) vs. Internazionale (fourth). The Serie A side, who reached the final, were drawn at home last season, but under the new system Barcelona would automatically have priority.
Arsenal had to play the second leg of their quarterfinal against Real Madrid (11th) at the Bernabeu last season, and that tie would be reversed this season with 3rd place having automatic home priority in the last-eight.
The regulation change also applies to the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and UEFA Women's Champions League.