Do away goals count in the Europa League?

The 2023/24 Europa League knockout rounds are well underway, with teams fighting to be crowned champions of the continent's second most prestigious cup competition.

While some teams are flying effortlessly through this season's tournament, other sides have found life a lot more challenging as they vie for European glory.

With fixtures that could swing either way throughout the knockout phase, it's important for clubs and their supporters to know how Europa League ties are settled in the event of an aggregate draw come the final whistle.

Having been a regular feature of European competition in past years, is the away goal rule still in use in the Europa League?

The away goal rule was previously a pivotal part of knockout football in Europe, with the side who had netted more over two legs progressing if the tie ended in a draw on aggregate. However, away goals no longer count in any European competition, and that includes the 2023/24 Europa League.

UEFA chose to get rid of the away goal rule at the start of the 2021/22 season, a decision that has been met with significant backlash from plenty of supporters.

If the aggregate score between two sides is now level after both legs have been played, the game will go to extra-time — regardless of which team has scored more away goals. That gives both sides an additional 30 minutes to try and swing the tie, although that's not always possible.

If neither team is able to capitalise in extra time, the match will eventually go to a standard penalty shootout.

Out of the eight ties in the Europa League knockout round play-offs this year, three matches ended up going to extra-time. However, if the away goal rule still stood, only one of those games wouldn't have been settled on away goals