<P> The away goals rule is most often invoked in two - leg fixtures, where the initial result is determined by the aggregate score--i.e. the scores of both games are added together . But if the away team scores 1 away that would equal to 2 home goals scored in a competitive match . In many competitions, the away goals rule is the first tie - breaker in such cases, with a penalty shootout as the second tie - breaker if each team has scored the same number of away goals . Rules vary as to whether the away goals rule applies only to the end of normal time of the second leg, or applies in extra time as well . It was first introduced by UEFA in 1965--66 European Cup Winners' Cup . </P> <P> Originally, the away goal rule was introduced in football as an expedited way of doing away with playoffs or tie breakers on neutral grounds to resolve a logistical, physical and calendar problem when two teams were so closely matched the final score over the two legs remained in absolute parity, which could remain even after a third game tie breaker . Now, the away goals rule is intended to encourage the away team to be more aggressive . In football, at least, it sometimes leads to a nervous first leg: the home team is unwilling to commit large numbers of players to attack lest they concede a goal, whilst the away team attempts to defend and snatch an away goal to aid them in the second leg . Such tactics arguably make the second leg more exciting, after a low - scoring first leg leaves both sides with a chance to win . There are sometimes debates over whether the away goals rule gives an unfair advantage to the team playing away first--with the other team squandering their home advantage in the first leg due to away goal fears--and this may be a factor in its somewhat patchy adoption for competitions . </P> <P> There is also the issue that if extra time is played in the second leg, the away team gets an extra 30 minutes to take advantage of the away goals rule . This can be countered by the fact that in extra time, the home team has the advantage of playing the extra 30 minutes at home . </P> <P> Anecdotal evidence certainly suggests that most teams feel an away goal puts them in the driving seat, such as Liverpool being able to draw 1--1 at Arsenal in the 2008 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals; Liverpool did eliminate Arsenal to advance to the semifinals . Liverpool won the second game 4--2, making the aggregate score for the tie Liverpool 5--3 Arsenal, therefore, the away goal scored by Liverpool in the first leg was not required . Many commentators have described the importance of a team being away to score an away goal, even when losing that leg of the tie, as it mathematically does give that team a chance to redeem itself on home soil by leveling the tie on aggregate while using the away goal as a tiebreaker . For example, in the 2007 UEFA Champions League round of 16, while Bayern Munich lost the first leg 3--2 at Real Madrid, Bayern later won 2--1 at home to level the tie on aggregate, but it was Bayern's away goals scored during their first leg loss that let them advance . In a recent instance, at the 2013 UEFA Champions League semifinals, despite falling 4--1 in the first leg at Dortmund, Real Madrid would have been able to advance if at home it managed to hold Dortmund to 3--0 . (Real Madrid scored two goals in the last ten minutes to win the second leg, 2--0, but were unable to score the third goal that would have sent them through to the finals .) In the other semifinal, however, after Barcelona was shut out at Bayern Munich, 4--0, commentators considered Barcelona essentially eliminated, because Bayern could seal the tie by scoring one away goal even if Barcelona managed to score five goals . </P>

Do away goals count in champions league playoffs