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The A-League this season features a total of 12 teams. Each team competes home and away against the other 11 teams, resulting in 22 rounds of regular matches. Additionally, each team plays an extra game against four out of the remaining 11 teams, totaling 26 rounds of regular matches. The top 6 teams advance to the championship playoffs.
Criteria for ranking:
1. Three points awarded for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss.
2. In case of equal points:
a. The team with more wins is ranked higher.
b. If wins are equal, the team with a higher goal difference is ranked higher.
c. If goal differences are equal, the team with more total goals scored is ranked higher.
d. If still tied, results from head-to-head matches are considered.
e. If still tied, the team with a better goal difference in head-to-head matches is ranked higher.
f. If still tied, the team with more goals scored in head-to-head matches is ranked higher.
g. If still tied, the team with fewer red and yellow cards is ranked higher.
Starting from the 2021/22 season, the A-League playoffs feature two-legged semi-finals.
Qualification for the AFC Champions League:
1. In the 2021 season, all A-League teams collectively withdrew from the AFC Champions League.
2. In the 2022 season, the AFC Champions League spots were allocated as follows: the 2020/21 champions Melbourne City directly entered the group stage of the 2022 AFC Champions League, while the runners-up Sydney FC participated in the play-off round. The winner of the FFA Cup also earned a spot in the next season's AFC Champions League.
3. Starting from the 2023 season, the number of AFC Champions League spots for the A-League decreased. The 2021/22 champions directly entered the group stage of the 2023 AFC Champions League, while the runners-up competed in the group stage of the 2023 AFC Cup.
4. Each season, the top eight teams in the regular season automatically qualify for the round of 32 of the FFA Cup in the following season. |
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