2024-25 UEFA Champions League Matchday 2, first set of games, to be played on 1 October 2024.
1 October 2024
18:45 CET - Salzburg (RB Arena)
RB SALZBURG (AUT) - STADE BRESTOIS 29 (FRA)
Referee: Anthony Taylor ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG
Fourth Official: Craig Pawson ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: David Coote ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Vlado Svilokos CRO
UEFA Delegate: Roxana Berceanu ROU
18:45 CET - Stuttgart (MHPArena)
VFB STUTTGART (GER) - AC SPARTA PRAHA (CZE)
Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Mangirdas Mirauskas LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Vytenis Kazlauskas LTU
Fourth Official: Mindaugas Jackus LTU
Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Costas Kapitanis CYP
UEFA Delegate: Romano Clavadetscher SUI
21:00 CET - Milan (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza)
FC INTERNAZIONALE (ITA) - FK CRVENA ZVEZDA (SRB)
Referee: Felix Zwayer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Dietz GER
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner GER
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Brand GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Stavros Tritsonis GRE
UEFA Delegate: Paul Lyon GIB
21:00 CET - Barcelona (Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys)
FC BARCELONA (ESP) - BSC YOUNG BOYS (SUI)
Referee: Erik Lambrechts BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Jo de Weirdt BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Kevin Monteny BEL
Fourth Official: Nathan Verboomen BEL
Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Clay Ruperti NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Emil Bozinovski MKD
UEFA Delegate: Charles Schaack LUX
21:00 CET - Leverkusen (BayArena)
BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN (GER) - AC MILAN (ITA)
Referee: Sandro Schärer SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Stéphane De Almeida SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Jonas Erni SUI
Fourth Official: Lionel Tschudi SUI
Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San SUI
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Elmir Pilav BIH
UEFA Delegate: Tarik Shamel ENG
21:00 CET - Dortmund (Signal Iduna Park)
BORUSSIA DORTMUND (GER) - CELTIC FC (SCO)
Referee: José María Sánchez ESPAssistant Referee 1: Iñigo Prieto ESP
Assistant Referee 2: José Naranjo ESP
Fourth Official: Guillermo Cuadra ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Bruno Lopes Martins POR
UEFA Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR
UEFA Delegate: Andrey Medintsev BU
21:00 CET - London (Emirates)
ARSENAL FC (ENG) - PARIS SAINT GERMAIN (FRA)
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: Rade Obrenovič SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Nejc Kajtazovič SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Herbert Fandel GER
UEFA Delegate: Aristeidis Stavropoulos GRE
21:00 CET - Eindhoven (Philips Stadion)
PSV (NED) - SPORTING CP (POR)
Referee: Marco Guida ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Ciro Carbone ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Giorgio Peretti ITA
Fourth Official: Fabio Maresca ITA Daniele Doveri ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Chiffi ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Karen Nalbandyan ARM
UEFA Delegate: Karl Espen Eriksen NOR
21:00 CET - Bratislava (Národný futbalový štadión)
SK SLOVAN BRATISLAVA (SVK) - MANCHESTER CITY FC (ENG)
Referee: Davide Massa ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio ITA
Fourth Official: Simone Sozza ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Di Bello ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Valerio Marini ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Uno Tutk EST
UEFA Delegate: Marcin Stefański POL
Wow.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/rzz72zO08zQ?si=_jHNa0KO1D5yveLb
It's an old story about this kind of incident. Most of times it happens but referees use common sense and they assess that ball is not still in play. We will never find consistency, all decisions should be like this one, but it will never happen. And then you have the astonishment.
DeleteI see a couple of strange appointments in this set, and they look like replacements. One can't believe that Inter - Crvena Zvezda needs Zwayer, but even more than that, Massa in Bratislava for City game.
ReplyDeleteFor sure a Category 1 was expected in Slovakia, I think we can have more doubts about the game in Milan, but still... another confirmation that Massa assignment is probably a replacement is the fact that it will be already his second match in Champions League, appointed on both MD1 and MD2.
Anthony Taylor finds again Champions League and in my opinion this was not granted. After the debut of the Scottish referee on MD1, the French side of Brest is used for this appointment, one can easily read the choice by committee, contrary to Vincic game, the most hidden one for the English. It's incredible how much trust has Taylor by Rosetti, another referee would have been already "dismissed" in terms of trust, considering also the age and the quite long career with all the achievements.
Good appearance for the Lithuanian referee, it should be his second game in CL, if I'm not wrong, while
We will have the BENELUX represented in Barcelona - Young Boys, including als the UEFA delegate, maybe all travelling togther...? :)
Top game for Vincic (quite rare, as we know, very often hidden to spotlights), but important "only" for three points at this stage, and now, after having officiated CL final, he can get that without being worried about future.
A very classic "Rosetti style" appointment for Schaerer, in a rather challenging game for an Italian team, Milan in this case, the Italian head of UEFA refereeing sends one of his best referees at moment. The particular treatment for Italian teams, and you can also include Zwayer in Milan, as said, continues. Let's see who will be in charge of Juventus game.
Part of the explanation for some of the surprises should be that there are more top referees without CL game on MD1 than real top games on MD2.
DeleteThere are also Kovacs and Letexier remaining (the obvious choice would be Leipzig-Juventus and Benfica-Atletico for them).
But yes, at least the game in Bratislava could have seen a First Group referee (e.g. Aghayev) instead of an Elite referee repeating after MD1.
Indeed quite small game for Taylor, but also not many options, if we assume, he can't get Italian and German teams this season.
I didn't expect Lukjancukas back in CL after not so good appointments recently (only NL league C, no CL qualifier, only ELQ R3).
Why not italian teams for Taylor?
DeleteYou mean after EL final?
Germany after the handball is quite logical
Yes, exactly. He hasn't done Italian teams since, I think.
DeleteI don't think, it should be that way (especially, because it wasn't a bad performance in the EL final) - but unfortunately it seems to be the reality.
According to Anonym in the German Referee Blog
ReplyDeleteHarm Osmers makes his debut on Wednesday between Dinamo Zagreb - AS Monaco
Kuipers as observer would suit if they have big plans for the German.
DeleteAbsolutely believe Massa must be a replacement but agree a Cat 1 referee could have been appointed.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that Di Paolo has Sporting on both MD1&2 as VAR and surely could be avoided.
I thought Taylor and Zwayer would get appointments but low profile games at this stage (in fact predicted Zwayer for his game).
Also agree that Kovacs and Letexier will most likely be appointed the the two games mentioned (Kovacs for the Benfica game perhaps).
Looking at the other VAR's
French (Letexier), Portugese (Pinhiero perhaps), Dutch (Gozubuyuk) and Kwiatolski perhaps with Kovacs (as it seems being VAR for the same team on both MD's isn't an issue for the REFCOM).
Zwayer after a bad semifinal on Euro a low profile CL match.
ReplyDeleteRosetti management also with Taylor.
After criticisim he dont let fall them down, but give a low profile match.
And why is the age a thing?
Orsato was older and whistled till last Euro
Liverpool x Bologna
ReplyDeletePinheiro
Just a guess, less than prediction...
ReplyDeleteI go for
Donezk-Bergamo Stieler
Bordeaux-Rotterdam Grinfeld
Liverpool-Bologna Kovacs
Leipzig-Juve Bastien
Benfica-Atletico Letexier
Zagreb-Monaco Osmers
Lille-Real Madrid Jovanovic
Aston Villa-Bayern Gözöbüyük
Graz-Brugge Pinheiro
My guess is that Rotterdam won't face Bordeaux next week.
DeleteWhy
Delete@Hans: Because Rotterdam's opponent is Girona (from Spain), not Bordeaux (from France).
DeleteAnd I'm not sure Rosetti would have a need to observe Grinfeeld either
DeleteAnyone watching Ipswich-Aston Villa? Attwell is just totally unaware of what is a caution and what isn’t. So so poor
ReplyDeleteI like Attwell, but he was slightly in danger of losing the game. I thought he did okay, but Morsy was rather lucky to not receive a 2YC
DeleteInteresting red card for SFP in Man utd vs Tottenham
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely correct imo
DeleteI don’t agree with the sending off. Bruno Fernandes slips, while falling makes an ultimate attempt to play the ball, hits his opponent high, though without studs and with low to average intensity. Reckless at most, so a Yc would have done for me.
DeleteAR2 gave it. Otherwise he wouldn’t flag in that situation. It also looked worse from that angle than others.
DeleteIt’s correct for me but I wouldn’t argue with yellow
It's tough to tell ... While the contact seemed very dangerous, in the end, it was definitely not endangering, not too intense, even rather soft. I wouldn't have been bothered by a yellow.
DeleteAnd in the meantime the FA disciplinary board decided to cancel Bruno Fernandes’ suspension following his Rc.
DeleteSerious foul play is definitely the hot topic in this start of season for serie A.
ReplyDeleteHere another incident in today's game Torino - Lazio.
Sozza issued yellow card, VAR supported.
https://streambug.org/cv/864040
In my opinion this should have been red card. Only the low contact can save the player but when you enter the challenge with both legs in that way and you also hit opponent, well, no doubts, extremely dangerous and excessive force used. I would also assess this one as clear mistake by VAR to miss the intervention, but again, when it's about SFP it's simply impossible to have consistency... in this case in my opinion playing a bit the ball before is a minor argument (but this should be main reason why VAR stayed silent).
And then compare this jumping tackle with the Bruno Fernandes Rc in Manchester…
DeleteExcellent refereeing by Busquets Ferrer in the Madrid Derby.
ReplyDeleteExcept for the red card in the end of the game that was corrected by VAR, totally in control and having most of the decisions correct.
Following the events in Kuwait, Maresca has been replaced by Doveri as fourth official in Guida's game.
ReplyDeleteYess he said against a player "i kill you" ....
DeleteMatch report of the referee is not geven but the player are going to the Police.
Awful referee
I'm watching Lukjančukas, so far expected level performance.
ReplyDeleteOne correct YC.
Disallowed goal in Taylor game, reported for offside:
https://streamin.me/v/2c149b51
But, where is the offside? We know, no offside on corner kick, then only touch by defender (own goal). The player impeding keeper can't be considered in offside.
Am I missing anything?
Yes, there is a small touch by the attacker lying on the ground - better visible from other angles.
DeleteDisallowed after OFR.
Not completely clear IMO, but the more expected decision, I think.
Not a very challenging match for the Lithuanian in Germany. In the end, a quite regular performance, he could have done a little better in second half, maybe a few fouls to call and some short moments of tension, but overall not much to say about today.
ReplyDeleteCorrect early PK + YC by Sánchez Martínez in BVB - Celtic, clear foul by GK.
ReplyDeleteBoth clear penalties whistled by Sanchez Martinez.
Deletehttps://streamin.me/v/aaffef93
https://streamin.me/v/ff9b27ed
Besides the penalties an expected level performance in a rather easy game.
DeleteWill be interesting, whether he gets another chance for the Spain number one spot and maybe a top clash on MD3/4.
Goal cancelled in Leverkusen (20') after a quite clear offside missed by AR1.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as in Milan VAR will not work for the last minutes of the game.
ReplyDeleteVery long time before a penalty execution, it was correctly whistled by the German.
Someone has a clip? I miss this part. Thanks in advance
DeleteMany one-sided games today and for some aspects definitely not the fascinating atmosphere of Champions League.
ReplyDeleteThis was rather predictable with the new format, but it's also true that there were weak teams also in the groups format.
In this context, surely these games can't be very challenging, no need of Zwayer in Milan was in my opinion confirmed by the outcome of the game. Incredible final score in Dortmund, but at least here the Spanish referee had to whistle two penalties (nevertheless, we can't say this was a challenging game, definitely...). More than easy for Massa in Bratislava, Barcelona tie not even to be mentioned, at the end we had only two or three real games, among them Eindhoven, Leverkusen and Arsenal - PSG.
Rather good performances by referees, all the interventions about offsides, some evident mistakes, and other cases in which it was difficult for the assistant referees.
I think that committee should consider carefully how to appoint referees, some choices for today's games were really without explanations, we know they can be replacements, but still... too much out of context!
Today was kinda expected to be a calm day for the referees. Btw very impressive Schärer if you ask me, the game could have been quite heated if not for his very prevention and authority.
DeleteTomorrow we have the opposite to today. Games seem to be rather "underappointed". Especially the matches in Birmingham and Lisbon could be too big for the respective referees.
What I dont really get though it that the issues are not about the format. With the 18 referees appointed, one could have easily gotten a saver matchday. So is this a new strategy or just bad consciousness?
Yes, you are right. Today it will be a very different set of games in terms of refereeing. Above all, Petrescu in Aston Villa - Bayern the most surprising assignment, but I think the English team allowed committee to do that. If it had been Arsenal, Manchester and so on, the Romanian Category 1 wouldn't have been appointed. Still, a very big game for him and this was Elite stuff, but it can be an easy task for German side.
DeleteEven if the appointment of Gozubuyuk, Elite referee since a certain time, is definitely less surprising and maybe it could have been expected, what he is about to face in Lisbon can be extremely challenging, considering the nature and the way of playing of both teams, not a football game, but something different. Nevertheless, he could be lucky (lucky because for a referee is always better if a game potentially hot results to be easier than the expected) that this one will be maybe different..we will see.
One could also describe Mariani assignment as a bit above the standard for him, but with already several epparances in Champions League and the Spanish team clearly favorite, maybe not that much. Surely, the most sonorous tie in CL he officiated so far.
The debuts are always particular cases to be treated under this point of view, while I think the only very "normal" appointment, and maybe a bit overappointed, indeed, is Juventus game with Letexier.
PSV-Sporting seemed quite challenging with both teams playing in an intense manner. Some lack of acceptance for Guida.
ReplyDeleteAnd the German commentator called him "master of theatrics" :)
We hear similar things quite a lot if there is a Spanish or Italian referee. For sure, they have a style which is totally different to the German one. And indeed, for a German, it looks quite theatric.
DeleteDutch commentators found him weak, not even by having a negative impact om PSV, but just became he seemed indecent and lost at times. Let's say he wasn't always lucky.
DeleteHe was weak.
DeleteSome faults what never was a fault on both sides.
And sometimes corrected by AR because he makes in the pitch the wrong decision
Are Milan fans overreacting on social media or did Scharer fail to award them a penalty towards the end??
ReplyDeleteAlso, solid from Zwayer, not a very challenging match and he did fine.
Yes, NO PENALTY decision by Schaerer in last minutes of the game was not accepted and it's reported as big miss. Will post the clip later today.
ReplyDeleteSome incidents from Schaerer game.
ReplyDelete30'
Missed (at least) YC?
https://streamable.com/40mw8e
Penalty area incidents
41'
https://streamable.com/cww64t
45'+1
https://streamable.com/6qrdzs
78'
https://streamable.com/r7blsw
90'+2
https://streamable.com/bzatfx
https://streamable.com/it5oax
This one outside the box, according to what was reported, but still a missed foul?
30: missed YC; Scharer is too close to perceive what happened (tactical foul by reckless means), fourth official Tschudi with more alertness could have perceived the incident clearly
Delete41: correct decision, Abraham stops in order to generate a collision
46: no clear foul
78: correct decision, defender just kicks the ball away and the attacker is later to the duel
92: missed foul; it seems quite likely that (part of) the careless contact occurred on the penalty area line, but with CLEAR evidence lacking, VAR San behaved in the correct way imo to stay silent
As a tangential remark, I didn't watch this game but did see France-Italy and would say this: Scharer is too content to use management skills in situations when a YC should be issued. It's good that he can impose his authority on the game and rightly sees his strong warnings as a significant tool in his 'armoury'.
One should be weary when this leads to the inconsistency of dealing with misconduct that occurs early (warning) versus later (🟨).
Not sure, whether 90+2 is even a clear enough foul for a VAR intervention. At 0:14 in the second clip, it looks like the defender might even play the ball, and anyway the defender has his foot first in the place of the contact, therefore it could be seen as a kick by the attacker as well.
DeleteNone of the penalty area situations are penalties. It's just another Italian team whining and trying to influence referees.
Delete