This is why UEFA Champions League group runners-up get to play the first leg at home

The Champions League Round of 16 draw has just been made, and by now you know which team your favourite club is going to face. But have you ever wondered why the Runners-up of the group, instead of being punished, are given the seemingly advantageous chance of playing the first leg at their home?

In football, playing at home makes a lot of difference. With the stadium reverberating with the home support’s chants, even what looks like an impossible situation can be overcome. Not just the crowd support, even playing in familiar surroundings, knowing every inch of the stadium, not having to travel, etc make a lot of difference to the performance of a team.

Since the knockout stages in the UEFA Champions League are two-legged affairs, the first leg becomes important because both teams would know what they need to do in the second leg to progress. Since the 2nd leg would be played under a lot more pressure, especially when the aggregate scoreline is close, the team that is playing at home in the 2nd leg will be in familiar territory.

Therefore, playing the 2nd leg at home is a lot more advantageous than playing the first leg, and therefore, the group winners get to play their 2nd leg games at home.