It also applies to the Excel Europa League and the Excel Conference League
On this page, we will explain the different scoring criteria that can be applied in the Excel Champions League. The examples are entirely fictional and are only used to illustrate the functioning of the Excel.
In each group, participants establish the scores they consider appropriate. Some scores will be left at 0 because they don’t want that criteria to contribute, while in other cases, more points will be given to certain criteria than others because they value them more. This all depends on each group. In that sense, it is all flexible, and each group can tailor it to their preferences.
Scoring Criteria for Excel Champions League Prediction
Group Stage Scores:
Within the group stage, points can be obtained based on the following criteria:
- GROUP STAGE – 1X2 (home win, draw, away win): Correctly predict the 1X2 outcome (home win, draw, away win) of each match in the group stage.
- GROUP STAGE – Goal Difference (with 1X2 correct): To earn points in this category, you need to correctly predict the outcome and also the exact goal difference.
- GROUP STAGE – Exact Result: Correctly predict the exact result of each match in the group stage.
- GROUP STAGE – Exact Position (1st): Correctly predict the 1st place team in each group. Points are awarded for correctly predicting each group individually.
- GROUP STAGE – Exact Position (2nd): Correctly predict the 2nd place team in each group. Points are awarded for correctly predicting each group individually.
- GROUP STAGE – Exact Position (3rd): Correctly predict the 3rd place team in each group. Points are awarded for correctly predicting each group individually.
- GROUP STAGE – Exact Position (4th): Correctly predict the 4th place team in each group. Points are awarded for correctly predicting each group individually.
- Club Qualified for ROUND OF 16: Additional points can be earned for correctly predicting the teams that qualify for the Round of 16; order of qualification does not matter in this criterion.
Example Group Stage Scores
Let’s assume that 1 point is awarded for correctly predicting the match outcome, 1 point for correctly predicting the goal difference, and another point for correctly predicting the exact result as in the table below.
| GROUP STAGE – 1X2 (home win, draw, away win) | 1 |
| GROUP STAGE – Goal Difference (with 1X2 correct) | 1 |
| GROUP STAGE – Exact Result | 1 |
Let’s imagine the result of the match Ajax – Rangers is 3-0 in favor of Ajax. Let’s see different scenarios of how points are earned using the scoring from the table above.
| Participant’s Prediction | Points Awarded | Total Points |
| Ajax 3 – Rangers 0 | 1 point for predicting Ajax wins 1 point for correct goal difference 1 point for exact result | 3 |
| Ajax 2 – Ranger 0 | 1 point for predicting Ajax wins 0 points for not predicting goal difference 0 points for not predicting exact result | 1 |
| Ajax 4 – Rangers 1 | 1 point for predicting Ajax wins 1 point for correct goal difference 0 points for not predicting exact result | 2 |
| Ajax 0 – Rangers 2 | 0 points for not predicting Ajax wins 0 points for not predicting goal difference 0 points for not predicting exact result | 0 |
| Ajax 3 – Rangers 3 | 0 points for not predicting Ajax wins 0 points for not predicting goal difference 0 points for not predicting exact result | 0 |
Scores for Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, 3rd-4th Place Match, and Final
The match criteria for these rounds are the same as the group stage: Outcome (1X2), goal difference, and exact result. The same criteria apply to all knockout rounds. It’s important to clarify what happens in case of a tie in the aggregate score at the 90th minute of the second-leg match.
The first-leg match functions like a group stage match.
For the second-leg match:
If there is no tie in the aggregate score at the 90th minute of the second-leg match, the result that counts for the second-leg match is the one at the 90th minute.
If there is a tie in the aggregate score at the 90th minute of the second-leg match, the result that counts for the second-leg match is the one at the 120th minute.
Example:
Context: Round of 16. PSG – Milan. The first-leg match ends in a 0-0 tie.
At the 90th minute of the second-leg match, the score is 0-0, and at the 120th minute, it becomes 1-0 in favor of PSG. The result that counts for the second-leg match is the 1-0 at the 120th minute.
If at the 90th minute of the second-leg match, the score is 2-2, and it remains 2-2 at the 120th minute, the 2-2 result counts since there’s no change.
If at the 90th minute of the second-leg match, the score is 2-2, and it becomes 3-3 at the 120th minute, the 3-3 result at the 120th minute counts.
2 Examples of Knockout Round Scores
Let’s look at 2 examples: one with a tie and another without a tie at the 90th minute, using the following scoring criteria for both examples.
| ROUND OF 16 – 1X2 (home win, draw, away win) | 1 |
| ROUND OF 16 – Goal Difference (with 1X2 correct) | 1 |
| ROUND OF 16 – Exact Result | 1 |
| Team Qualified for QUARTERFINALS | 1 |
Example A) Let’s imagine a fictitious Round of 16 match. In the first-leg match, Milan 0 – PSG 0. And at the end of the 90th minute of the second-leg match, the score is PSG 1 – Milan 0
In the table, we add up only the outcome, the goal difference, and the exact result, and below the table, we add a comment about the “Team Qualified for Quarterfinals” criteria. In this table, only the result of the second-leg match counts. The first-leg match has already counted.
| Participant’s Prediction (second-leg match) | Points Awarded | Total Points |
| Second Leg: PSG 1 – Milan 0 | 1 point for predicting PSG wins 1 point for correct goal difference 1 point for exact result | 3 |
| Second Leg: PSG 2 – Milan 0 | 1 point for predicting PSG wins 0 points for not predicting goal difference 0 points for not predicting exact result | 1 |
| Second Leg: PSG 3– Milan 2 | 1 point for predicting PSG wins 1 point for correct goal difference 0 points for not predicting exact result | 2 |
| Second Leg: PSG 0 – Milan 2 | 0 points for not predicting PSG wins 0 points for not predicting goal difference 0 points for not predicting exact result | 0 |
| Second Leg: PSG 2 – Milan 2 (PSG Advances in Penalties) | 0 points for not predicting PSG wins 0 points for not predicting goal difference 0 points for not predicting exact result | 0 |
If the participant had also predicted that PSG would qualify for the Quarterfinals, they would earn an additional point for correctly predicting that PSG would advance in the “Team Qualified for Quarterfinals” criteria.
Example B) Now let’s imagine that in both the first-leg and second-leg matches, the fictitious Round of 16 match ends in a tie: PSG 0 – Milan 0, and PSG wins in a penalty shootout.
| Participant’s Prediction (second-leg match) | Points Awarded | Total Points |
| PSG 0 – Milan 0 (PSG Advances in Penalties) | 1 point for predicting a draw 1 point for correct goal difference 1 point for exact result | 3 |
| PSG 0 – Milan 0 (Milan Advances in Penalties) | 1 point for predicting a draw 1 point for correct goal difference 1 point for exact result (If they predicted PSG would qualify, they wouldn’t earn the “Team Qualified for Quarterfinals” point) | 3 |
| PSG 1 – Milan 1 (PSG Advances in Penalties) | 1 point for predicting a draw 1 point for correct goal difference 0 points for not predicting exact result | 2 |
| PSG 3– Milan 2 | 0 points for not predicting a draw 0 points for not predicting goal difference 0 points for not predicting exact result | 0 |
| PSG 0 – Milan 2 | 0 points for not predicting a draw 0 points for not predicting goal difference 0 points for not predicting exact result | 0 |
| PSG 2 – Milan 2 (PSG Advances in Penalties) | 1 point for predicting a draw 1 point for correct goal difference 0 points for not predicting exact result | 2 |
If the participant had also predicted that PSG would qualify for the Quarterfinals, they would earn an additional point for correctly predicting that PSG would advance to the Quarterfinals.
Honors Table Points
Champion: Predicting the winner of the Champions League in the final match.
Champion (predicted before the Champions League begins): Predicting the winner of the Champions League before the competition starts.
