The criticism of the away-goals rule ignores the moments of excitement that it continues to provide, writes Adam Bate.
Whenever a game threatens to be decided by the away-goals rule, the complaints have become familiar. It's a distortion of the contest. The game has been ruined. It's a relic of a bygone age in which clubs had to be coaxed into playing an attacking game in faraway lands.
Liverpool's Europa League tie with Borussia Dortmund was one such example. After the German side scored twice early on at Anfield, the rule was blamed for removing the opportunity of a comeback. That was all forgotten two hours and four Liverpool goals later.
Instead, it was that very rule that heightened the drama. Dejan Lovren's header in stoppage time sent Dortmund out and Liverpool through to the semi-finals. Joy, despair, agony, ecstasy and a game flipped on its head with one nod of Lovren's. Drama at its best.
Bayern Munich could not come up with such a moment in their Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night but the mere threat of it added to the tension. Only the away-goals rule can offer this - all or nothing in an instant.
Perhaps it's revealing that the greatest single moments of such drama in English football history are in league action rather than cups due to this capacity for one goal to alter the destination of the trophy.
Michael Thomas's injury-time goal for Arsenal wrenched the title from Liverpool in 1989 and Sergio Aguero's stoppage-time strike 23 years later did something similar - giving Manchester City their moment of glory at the expense of Manchester United.
Despite being billed as all or nothing, cup finals cannot actually do this in such brutal fashion. Ironically, finals lack this finality. It requires a turnaround of amazing proportions such as United's quick-fire brace against Bayern in 1999 to provide this illusion.
In contrast, the away-goals rule offers these moments on a regular basis. United have been on the receiving end in the past, vanquished by Porto in 2004 when about to progress - inspiring Jose Mourinho's run down the touchline in the process - and by Arjen Robben's late goal for Bayern at Old Trafford in 2010.
Chelsea's recent series of games with Paris St Germain have showcased its capacity to shock too. In the 2013/14 season, a late goal by Demba Ba turned the tie around for Chelsea, while Thiago Silva scored in the 114th minute to return the favour the following year.
Are such goals in extra-time just? That is another matter, although it's not a straightforward case of unfairness. The relative benefits of the potential to score an away goal is difficult to ascertain when balanced against the advantage of an additional half an hour playing at home.
But when it comes to excitement, the much-maligned away-goals rule deserves championing. So the next time a big game goes to the wire, remember the good times. Remember Ba. Remember Lovren. Remember the best of the away-goals rule and give thanks for the moments it brings.