2024-25 UEFA Champions League Round of 16, second legs, games to be played on Tuesday 11 March 2025.
18:45 CET - Barcelona (Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys)
FC BARCELONA (ESP) - SL BENFICA (POR)
Referee: François Letexier FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni FRA
Fourth Official: Stéphanie Frappart FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Björn Kuipers NED
UEFA Delegate: Metin Kazancıoğlu TUR
21:00 CET - Liverpool (Anfield)
LIVERPOOL FC (ENG) - PARIS SAINT GERMAN (FRA)
Referee: István Kovács ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
Fourth Official: Horațiu Feșnic ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR
LIVERPOOL FC (ENG) - PARIS SAINT GERMAN (FRA)
Referee: István Kovács ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
Fourth Official: Horațiu Feșnic ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR
UEFA Delegate: Stijn Hutsebaut BEL
21:00 CET - Milan (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza)
FC INTERNAZIONALE (ITA) - FEYENOORD (NED)
Referee: Ivan Kružliak SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor SVK
Fourth Official: Peter Kralović SVK
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Brand GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Elmir Pilav BIH
FC INTERNAZIONALE (ITA) - FEYENOORD (NED)
Referee: Ivan Kružliak SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor SVK
Fourth Official: Peter Kralović SVK
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Brand GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Elmir Pilav BIH
UEFA Delegate: David McDowell SVN
21:00 CET - Leverkusen (BayArena)
BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN (GER) - FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN (GER)
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: Matej Jug SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Manuel Díaz Vega ESP
BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN (GER) - FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN (GER)
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: Matej Jug SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Manuel Díaz Vega ESP
UEFA Delegate: Philippe Prudhon FRA
Overall a rather predictable and logical set of appointments.
ReplyDeleteFor Barcelona-Benfica we discussed recently, that there are arguments against nearly everyone. So UEFA decided not to care, that the winner might play Lille in the next round. Personally, I like that decision, because otherwise Letexier makes a lot of sense in that game. And the Kuipers observation should confirm, that he is considered for another final this season.
For Kruzliak, the late observer appointment actually meant, that we see a referee from last week. IMO, only two group stage games should not be enough to get a R16 2nd leg. Also his last CL game, was in October (and not really a good performance as well...).
Kruzliak was twice ill/injured during winter, that´s why he hadn´t any matches since October
DeleteYes, I am aware of that.
DeleteHowever, I think, that referees should also qualify for the KO stage during their GS games. And as Kruzliak didn't have the chance to do that, I would have preferred, if he stays in EL in this season.
He is also not an established name at this stage. I just realized, that this will even be his debut in CL KO games.
So for Wednesday, most likely Makkelie and Marciniak considering the AVARs.
ReplyDeleteFor Arsenal-PSV, Peljto stays the most likely option, but Bastien, Mariani, Nyberg and Siebert are also possible.
And if the late observer again means a EL R16 referee, it has to be Schärer (because Hernandez and Stieler are not possible in this game).
Marciniak then is much more likely than Makkelie in Madrid, if we consider their recent form and appointments.
Makkelie will get Lille Dortmund i guess
DeleteMarciniak the Madrid clash
Bastien with Arsenal maybe
Schaerer, Makkelie, Nyberg, Peljto, Marciniak, Mariani and Bastien should be all names possible we can expect for Wednesday's games... we'll see.
DeleteMakkelie’s domestic appointment (with Erwin Blank as AVAR) does not indicate a Champions League match.
DeleteI think it will be Nyberg with Dieperink.
OK, but wouldn't it be strange, if Makkelie isn't appointed for a play-off or R16 game (unless there are some fitness issues).
DeleteBTW, the same counts for Taylor.
Well… Let’s say, I would have made different choices.
ReplyDeleteGood that committee doesn't care about the possible next opponent of a team, this is an argument I never liked. And one must start from the consideration that, at the moment of the appointment that's not a factual situation, with second legs still to be played.
ReplyDeleteKuipers will meet Letexier: it's easy to say that knowing how committee treats the French, another final is possible for him.
But if you give him everything, one should wonder how many motivations a still relatively young referee can keep in the years at UEFA level, for a career that can be still considered as very long.
Vincic in Leverkusen a regular appointment, and one can also understand Kovacs in Liverpool - PSG. Which style will be used by the Romanian? How much difficult the game at Anfield will be?
And, as it was easy to understand, committee was waiting for Kruzliak EL game before confirming him for CL. I think the game in Milan will be a relatively calm one, don't see any chance for Feyenoord for a comeback, honestly. Looks like Rosetti has certain admiration for the Slovakian referee, even when he is not at his best. Maybe included in the WC selection? We will know soon.
So, I think we can predict quite easily at least three assignments for tomorrow: Marciniak in Madrid's derby, only choice remaining (and indeed his VAR will be AVAR on Tuesday) and Schaerer in Lille (the other delayed assignment after EL).
The curiosity remains about Arsenal - PSV, unluckily appointment made before first leg, and Club Brugge -Aston Villa. In the latter maybe Nyberg with Messina, as somebody predicted.
@Chefren
DeleteThe selection for WC will be made to Collina and Busacca not to Rosetti?
I think Kruzliak his style, is not good enough to go to the WC
Yes, Collina and Busacca.
DeleteThere is now a clear disconnection between UEFA and FIFA, compared to the past, but still for officiating at World Cup, a European referee must always go through big Champions League matches, it seems obvious to me...
A bit of a surprise for me that after last week's poor intervention, another German VAR is appointed for Internationale-Feyenoord again. But they probably don't care about that.
ReplyDeleteWell it’s not just another German VAR. It’s exactly the same one (Christian Dingert). Just with another AVAR. IMO such appointments should not be made, especially after a controversy in the first game. It adds extra pressure to the VAR IMO.
DeleteYou are right.... A fault of Rosetti.
DeleteThat indeed looks like a mistake. I don't think, it has happened before, that the same VAR works in both legs.
DeleteSwapping Dankert and Dingert would also make sense, because Dingert worked with Kovacs more often.
Let's say that committee has shown not to have a big interest in Inter - Feyenoord clash... same VAR in both legs, despite of a potentially controversial call in first leg and the delayed appointment in second leg.
DeleteI guess Letexier is in focus to get one of the smaller UEFA finals. I don't think he will get the Champions League final given his age. Furthermore, the argument that Jérôme Brisard already had a Champions League final as VAR in 2022 can be a strong one (unwritten rule?)
ReplyDeleteI am surprised that Vincic is not in Liverpool or Madrid. He had a very good performance in PSV-Juve. Maybe his connection with Ceferin (who has "friends" at PSG) is an issue? Or is this a way to keep the Slovenian ‘clean’ in his road to the semi-finals?
I think Kovács in Liverpool is a risk. This is a pre-final and the Romanian has a reputation to ‘kill’ games with a too authoritative and harsh disciplinary management. Pretty much the opposite of Massa and Vincic. I sincerely hope Kovacs can withstand the pressure from certain French directors.
Very good post, just two remarks: I don't think that Vincic had to be kept clean for semifinals, according how he is now managed by committee and it stays indeed as relatively surprising not to see him in Liverpool, but in the German derby. Still a normal assignment for him, but one could have easily guessed Liverpool.
DeleteThen, about Kovacs, being on paper a candidate for CL final, he has indeed only to lose in that game, especially if he will keep his approach and the game will present controversial situations, but, let's also say, this big attention for PSG must be over soon or later! I think if committee had planned the Romanian this year for CL final (possible candidate), they wouldn't have appointed him for the one in Liverpool!
The other perspective on Kovacs would be, that he is simply UEFA's current pick of the bunch, given all the top games he gets this season.
DeleteAnd if he deals well with Liverpool-PSG, he should be the big favourite for the final, I think.
On Vincic, I agree, he was also possible in Liverpool and Madrid, but the German derby is similarly big (ignoring the 1st leg result), so nothing too weird about this choice IMO.
Overall, it seems the current top5 for UEFA are quite clear at the moment: Kovacs, Letexier, Marciniak, Turpin, Vincic
And those 5 were distributed to arguably the 5 biggest games of the R16 (assuming Marciniak in Madrid).
@ Chefren,
DeleteAgree with you. Kovács is a candidate for the Champions League final, but normally not a #1 candidate. Indeed, what you said: they wouldn’t give him the game in Liverpool. And it would be his 3th (!) UEFA final in 4 years.
Another detail to consider: if Kovács is appointed to a Champions League final, he needs a foreign VAR. Unless they start to prepare and train Cătălin Popa. Like they did with Vincic/Kajtazovic.
Again, I echo the argument that a VAR is probably allowed to do a Champions League final only once. The German FA won’t lend their best VAR Dankert. They are aiming for a Zwayer/Dankert final.
Makkelie/Dieperink is a fixed couple as well. Marco Fritz retired.
To conclude, who could be Kovács’ VAR when he is assigned to the UCL final? It can be Popa or Van Boekel, I think? The latter is still lurking in Nyon, waiting for his chance. Or perhaps Dingert or one of the Italian VARs?
Van Boekel, Higler and Dingert should be the top options as VAR for Kovacs. They are all among the top UEFA VARs and have worked with Kovacs this season.
DeleteYou know how there is a term "sacrificional game"..
DeleteThis might be that for Kovacs,cause I dont see how he can win in this match.
On one hand you have Liverpool and english media that constantly complain about refs whenever they lose and were consistent in that for years whenever City was leading Premier League.
On the other hand,you have PSG,and we all know histiry with them and refs in CL.
Barcelona,Real,Bayern,every time they feel that they are harmed by refs decisions.
This season,he already had PSG match,against Bayern and there were lot of critics of his style and him sending off Dembele.
Yes,he had them last season against Barcelona and all major decisions went PSG's way(rightfully)and then there was not any complaints.
But this time I dont see how he can win unless he has some extraordinary performance like he had when City played Real 3 seasons ago.
Also,if we notice his style,maybe he changed it a little bit,more leniency as we saw in most recent Real-City match.
He also had Bucharest derby after that and that leniency was still present.
So maybe he changed his style and became modern no card giving ref.
If he did that,that's such a shame.
But like I said,I dont see how he can win in that match.
Maybe he can win if Liverpool blow PSG out and game does not have any competitive spirit.
Hopefully we'll see great match and great performance by Kovacs.
I agree with Phillip. However, I do think we shouldn’t rule Makkelie out for the UCL final. This season, he has been assigned relatively low-profile matches, similar to Turpin and Vincic in the seasons they officiated the final. It wouldn’t surprise me if, for that reason, Makkelie gets a less high-profile match in the UCL or even a UEL/UECL match.
ReplyDeleteOT: Which referees will be selected by FIFA from UEFA for the Club World Cup? And when will this be announced?
ReplyDeleteIt has been reported that this selection will be made after the FIFA seminary for UEFA referees at the end of this month in Zurich. Very important days for knowing more about the referees who are in contention for WC 2026.
Delete