How much does home/away matter?
 

Has there ever been anything said about if playing at home vs. playing on the road or at a neutral venue matters to the way the game actually plays? Do the home team players get a little boost from the crowd or anything like that? Or is it purely cosmetic?

Re: How much does home/away matter?
 

There were a few years of FIFA when I would adjust the difficulty pre-match to add this effect to the realism. I would play "Legendary" on the road and "World Class" at home. I liked that this forced me to (somewhat) adjust my play in road matches. Just another wrinkle to add to the career mode experience.

I play FIFA much less often now (two kids will do that) ... so I simply stick with one (I am on World Class for FIFA14) the past two years ...

Re: How much does home/away matter?
 

I think it does. For one, your fans are louder at your stadium. You can also hear the fans react to the scoreline with whoever is the home team. Don't know if it's just me but it's really tough beating São Paulo at Brazil. Eliminated me in the Copa LatAm 3-0 at their stadium after the first leg ended 1-1 at mine.

Re: How much does home/away matter?
 

Yes its been said. Its also been said that cpu will carry their form and teams can come out flat, energetic, attacking etc.

Winning on the road is much harder.

Re: How much does home/away matter?
 

There is a difference in the gameplay. There is a massive difference in the sim engine.

Re: How much does home/away matter?
 

gameplay seems to only be minor in differences. I notice the other team tends to play a little harder.

The sim engine is a different beast all together. Playing as Bayern Munich, I simmed an away game against Hannover 96. I started the usual Bayern XI, which is generally considered one of the best in the world. I lost 2-0, had a red card, 3 yellows, and an injury to Robben. That never happens when I sim a home game.

Re: How much does home/away matter?
 

I think its none which why its legend away and world class at home . Semi pro vs noob teams.