The Champions League quarter-final matchups are set, with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona set to clash in an all-La Liga affair, with Atletico Madrid playing the first leg away and the second leg at home.
In the Champions League stage, Barcelona finished 5th and qualified directly, while Atletico Madrid finished 14th and qualified through the playoffs. However, Atletico Madrid will play the first leg away in the quarterfinals due to a rule change for the new season.
Last season, Arsenal, who finished 3rd in the league, faced Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, both of whom qualified through the playoffs, in matches where they played the first leg at home and the second away. Their league-leading advantage was not fully utilized.
This season, in the Champions League, higher-ranked teams in the league will always play the first leg away. For example, if Arsenal and Bayern Munich, the top two teams, reach the semifinals, they will also play the first leg away. However, if they are eliminated, the team that eliminated them will take over their ranking.
Tottenham Hotspur finished 4th in the league. If Tottenham advances to the quarterfinals, they will play the first leg away against Barcelona. Now, Atletico Madrid has qualified, and since they have taken over Tottenham's ranking, they will also play the first leg away against Barcelona.
Currently, the five teams that directly qualified through the league stage remain in their respective rankings, Atletico Madrid takes over Tottenham's fourth place, Paris Saint-Germain takes over Chelsea's sixth place, and Real Madrid takes over Manchester City's eighth place.
