What Does Aggregate in Football Mean?
The term "aggregate" in football refers to the total combined score of a two-legged tie between two teams. This usually occurs in cup competitions or playoff rounds where teams play each other home and away. The winner of the tie is the team that has the higher combined score from both matches.
For example, in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, the Parisians won the first leg of the tie 4-0. Then, the second leg in Spain saw Barcelona win 6-1. The results of both games were combined to create a final score of 6-5 in favour of Barcelona.
Many knockout competitions use aggregate scoring across 180 minutes to decide which side advances. This includes the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, EFL playoffs, EFL Cup semi-finals, UEFA Europa/Conference League, and the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores.
If after two legs the aggregate score is tied, the fixture often goes to extra time, adding 30 minutes of football. If the match is still tied on aggregate, then a penalty shootout will take place. Previously, the away goals rule was a popular choice, deciding the winner of a tied aggregate scoreline by who scored more goals away from home. The away goals rule was abolished from the Champions League in 2021, as it was seen as unfair in the modern game. It discouraged attacking football, and home advantage is no longer as influential.
The aggregate system became widely adopted in European football with the introduction of the away goals rule in the 1965/66 European Cup Winners' Cup. The purpose was to eliminate the need for costly and inconvenient replays by providing a clear tie-breaker. This system was quickly adopted by other major competitions, shaping the tactical approach to two-legged knockout ties for over half a century.
Tottenham Hotspur faced a daunting task after losing the first leg of their Champions League semi-final 1-0 at home to Ajax. In the return leg in Amsterdam, things went from bad to worse as Ajax raced to a 2-0 lead in the first half, putting them up 3-0 on aggregate. However, a stunning second-half hat-trick from Lucas Moura, with the final goal coming in the 96th minute, tied the aggregate score at 3-3. Because Tottenham had scored three crucial goals away from home while Ajax had only scored one, the English side progressed to the final on the away goals rule.
A memorable and accurate example of a commanding playoff victory over two legs is the 2013 EFL Championship semi-final between Crystal Palace and fierce rivals Brighton. The first leg at Selhurst Park was a tense, goalless draw, setting up a winner-takes-all clash at the Amex Stadium. However, in the second leg, Crystal Palace, inspired by a brilliant performance from Wilfried Zaha, completely dominated their rivals. Zaha scored two goals to secure a resounding 2-0 victory on the night, and a comprehensive 2-0 aggregate win for Palace.
The 1998/99 Champions League semi-final between Manchester United and Juventus is a legendary encounter that showcases the thrilling nature of aggregate football from that era. The first leg at Old Trafford was a tight affair that finished 1-1. The return leg in Turin, however, became an instant classic. Juventus raced to a 2-0 lead within the first 11 minutes, putting them in a seemingly unassailable 3-1 aggregate lead. Manchester United, however, produced one of their most famous comebacks, with goals from Roy Keane, Dwight Yorke, and Andy Cole securing a 3-2 victory on the night and a 4-3 aggregate win for the Red Devils.
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