It depends, indeed last year and perhaps this year, finnishing second looks more attractive when some of the big guns are likely to finnish second aswell.
In recent years (also before Calciopoli) we always had the 2nd leg at home. Did it really help? Pool, Arsenal, almost even Bremen, Chelsea all got through mostly thanks to first leg result.
Thing is, i dont see US getting a good result at home if we play first leg at home either. Because we think the tie is still alive.
I am more hoping we get a easy opponent. Not another premiership sculp.
FFS we got chelsea, while Bayern got sporting, Villarreal got Pana.