Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the home advantage in the group matches played in UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League organizations in the 2021-2022 football season. A total of 96 teams were examined, including 32 teams in 8 groups for each of the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. The teams were divided into four categories (first, second, third and fourth rank) according to their group ranking. The number of goals scored and conceded by teams in each organization was examined according to their group ranking. The difference in the number of goals scored and conceded between group rankings and between home and away matches was examined by one-way variance analysis (ANOVA) and paired samples T-test. According to the analysis results, it was determined that the teams that were the group leaders scored more goals at home matches than the teams that were the last in the groups (p<0.05). Also, it was found that the teams that were the group leaders conceded fewer goals in the home matches of other organizations, with the exception of the UEFA Conference League, than the teams that were the last in the groups (p<0.05). In all organizations, it was determined that the teams that finished second in the groups scored more goals and conceded fewer goals in home matches than in away matches (p<0.05). Consequently, it might be said that in UEFA club organizations, home performance was a distinguishing factor in terms of group ranking.