2025-26 UEFA Champions League, Play-Offs, Second Legs, games to be played on 27 August 2025.
18:45 CET - Baku (Tofiq Bəhramov adına Respublika Stadionu)
QARABAĞ FK (AZE) - FERENCVÁROSI TC (HUN)
Referee: Clément Turpin FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Alexis Auger FRA
Fourth Official: Romain Lissorgue FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Nicolas Rainville FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Vítor Manuel de Melo Pereira POR
UEFA Delegate: David Andrew McDowell Zor SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Dietz GER
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner GER
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Johann Pfeifer GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Alain Hamer LUX
UEFA Delegate: Per Eliasson SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Alexis Auger FRA
Fourth Official: Romain Lissorgue FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Nicolas Rainville FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Vítor Manuel de Melo Pereira POR
UEFA Delegate: David Andrew McDowell Zor SVN
21:00 CET - Copenhagen (Parken - Connected by 3)
FC KØBENHAVN (DEN) - FC BASEL 1893 (SUI)
Referee: Istvan Kovacs ROU Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marius Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
Fourth Official: Szabolcs Roland Kovacs ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Cătălin Sorin Popa ROU
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Marcel Bîrsan ROU
UEFA Referee Observer: Domenico Messina ITA
UEFA Delegate: Armen Minasyan ARM
UEFA Delegate: Armen Minasyan ARM
21:00 CET - Lisbon (Estádio do SL Benfica)
SL BENFICA (POR) - FENERBAHÇE SK (TUR)
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: David Šmajc SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Dragoslav Perić SVN
UEFA Referee Observer: Martin Ingvarsson SWE
SL BENFICA (POR) - FENERBAHÇE SK (TUR)
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: David Šmajc SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Dragoslav Perić SVN
UEFA Referee Observer: Martin Ingvarsson SWE
21:00 CET - Bruges (Jan Breydelstadion)
CLUB BRUGGE (BEL) - RANGERS FC (SCO)
Referee: Felix Zwayer GER Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Dietz GER
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner GER
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Johann Pfeifer GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Alain Hamer LUX
UEFA Delegate: Per Eliasson SWE
Mourinho is the happiest man in the world right now
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean now. Within 20 minutes, Vincic disallowed two Benfica goals for ridiculous reasons.
DeleteWell, we can now say that it seems to be a very difficult season for Gil Manzano. 0 appointments in these rounds. Could be seen that not only Sánchez Martínez is over him, but also Hernández Hernández?
ReplyDeleteSeveral appointments for De Burgos in EL and ECL, looks like being promoting this year
Yes, definitely seems that Manzano is not in their plans... Tragic end of career for him ..
DeleteWe can probably foresee De Burgos's promotion to the Elite category in the near future.
DeleteAnd thus Alberola Rojas's subsequent promotion to Category 1.
He didn't get any single game in preliminary rounds. That's strange, even if he is not liked anymore by UEFA. I see his first La Liga game was yesterday and I want to ask whether it is possible that he was maybe injured on previous weeks (even considering the chance to get a CL 3rd Q. Game?
DeleteJust checked a straight RC for DOGSO in this game.
DeleteAccepted in modern football, but I never saw a more evident situation in which contact has been created by attacker to get fouled. It's incredible how easily he joins the path of defender, putting himself between him and ball no interest in playing ball (already gone) but just to allow red card...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miYs6vE92J0
Crear RC in my opinion
DeleteI don't agree, Chefren. I do think that the OSA player changes his direction (unexpectedly, because the defender failed) towards the ball
DeleteYeah, sorry but I do not see what you're talking about at all, Chefren. The attacker has an absolute total 1-on-1 if he can get clean through. There's no incentive for red card over the actual opportunity here--it's not like the defender is chasing and he's worried about losing control. The defender misplays the ball with his right leg and then *clearly* sticks his left foot out to trip the attacker.
DeleteThe defender tosses his arms up in the air and starts removing his captain's armband before the red is even out of the pocket. Keep it simple, everyone. Red cards do not get clearer or more obvious than this.
agree usaref, this is a 1000% red card, every discussion about other colour card is just idiotic, a referee who doesn't show a red card in this case, should go back to refereecourse and read the laws off the game again!
DeleteMartinez Munuera has also had a few good appointments in the qualifying rounds. Also interesting that La Liga has stopped using "active referees" as the main VAR this season which obviously effects Hernandez and Martinez who have been to tournaments in recent years.
DeleteWhat a sprint from Gil Manzano on that play, highlight-reel stuff. You could not ask for a referee to be in better position.
DeleteCan anyone explain why Gil Manzano has vanished from UEFA and FIFA’s radar?
ReplyDeleteI recall Ukraine–Italy, with a possible penalty. Austria–France at EURO 2024 wasn’t particularly bad either, yet he was sent home. He once ended a Real Madrid match too early, but now he’s officiating them again.
Am I missing something? Otherwise, his treatment seems extremely harsh for a former UCL semi-final referee — and his compatriots aren’t significantly better.
I don't know how much importance Uefa gives to this, but his refereeing in the National Supercup this January (Madrid 2-Barça 5) was catastrophic. He needed two OFR for a penalty and red card and he didn't show 2 clears SYC in the first half. He looked really overcome.
ReplyDeleteAnd he had a controversial OFR in a Bayern game, didn't he? He rejected the VOR's call for a trample penalty I think
But I do believe that Sánchez Martínez is a better referee who is showing more abilities in UCL's games. I can assure you that the average level of Gil Manzano in Uefa (which wasn't that incredible) has been MUCH higher than in La Liga.
DeleteI personally like Sánchez Martínez more but IMO Gil Manzano's style is better for top games. Sánchez Martínez sometimes struggles in find a clear and predictable line in foul detection and is too hit-or-miss with KMIs but has a very high natural authority, that's why the Murcian is a great choice for potentially challenging and hot games like PAOK - Rijeka 2nd leg on Thursday in Greece, but Gil Manzano is more suited for e.g. Man City vs Bayern where players are focused on playing.
DeleteGil Manzano last year had a rather poor domestic season (besides the Supercopa final nightmare, had another very poor performance in the following LaLiga game Las Palmas - Osasuna and made an incredible mistake upholding a wrong PK after OFR in an important relegation game Alavés-Valencia), but don't remember him having poor performances in UEFA (maybe because he didn't get many relevant games? Off the top of my head only remember Ajax-Galatasaray from EL LS where he did a sound job)
It's interesting because both of them should be in contention for the Spanish referee spot at WC26, some months ago I'd have assumed Gil Manzano was ahead in the race because he was the only one who attended last EURO, but Sánchez Martínez got called for U20WC instead (I've always interpreted the U20WC European selection -Schärer, SM, Peljto, Pinheiro, Mariani- as the "squad of refs unlucky to miss out on CWC who in case of a good tournament should fill the last UEFA spots for WC")
Quilava, do you think that de Burgos can be promoted to Elite Categroy,and his chances about that?
DeleteWe'll see during autumn if he makes CL but. So far the summer appointments don't suggest he's going to be tried for such thing, and there might very well be some overbooking with three Spaniards in Elite already.
DeleteAtm it feels like the plan is just to make Hdz Hdz Spain's No2 and just keep Gil Manzano in Elite as No3. There hasn't been any demotions from Elite category in many years and four Spanish referees in this category would be quite unprecedented.
DeleteThey were four several years ago: Mateu, Del Cerro, Undiano Mallenco and Gil Manzano. This was 2018/19 I think
DeleteVery challenging game for Hooper in Newcastle this evening. Biggest moment, a YC upgraded after Brooks intervention to RC in 45+3' for Gordon. Correct OFR for SFP. I think it would have been a hard game for anyone, but the management of cards early on (possible Newcastle reckless 2' 5', then reckless Liverpool 8'), didn't help in setting the tone, and may have led to the RC challenge at the end of the half
ReplyDeleteI completely a very hard game for anyone to manage
Delete
ReplyDeleteSlavko Vincic cannot referee Maribor FK's games because he is from Maribor and a Maribor fan. Maribor club owner Acun Ilıcalı is Fenerbahçe vice president. This referee appointment is scandalous
Pure speculatino.
DeleteVery poor refreeing yesterday at Sevilla vs getafe and the refree was isidro diaz de mera... Missed fouls, yellow cards, too little added time in the end, no yellow card for getafe goalkeeper (time wasting)... In my opinion he is the worst la liga ref right now beside munuera montero of course... 😉
ReplyDeleteThe IFAB has clarified that VAR may now intervene if a player illegally touches the ball twice during a set piece (e.g., free kick) and this leads to an attacking phase resulting in a goal or penalty. This follows an incident in the Bundesliga opener between FC Bayern and RB Leipzig, where a goal was initially allowed after such a double touch. The new regulation aims to ensure greater fairness and legal certainty, explicitly authorizing VAR to act in such situations.
ReplyDeleteWhy would this not be the case? It’s an offence like anything else.
DeleteClément Turpin looked to be very disappointed, looking at his body language, after the VAR intervention for allowing a goal wrongly annulled by AR2. Mistake should have been avoided, attacker clearly onside, no borderline situation, a bit behind the line.
ReplyDeleteBtw, what happened to Turpin‘s usual AR Pages?
DeleteOther that that, regular first half, not a difficult game so far.
yeah don't know what's happening with french assistant for this season start even for letexier or bastien in europe they are not with their usual assistant, that will help them to get overall good performance
DeleteI’m a bit surprised with the choice of Alexis Auger for this game. He is usually in Brisard’s team in League 1 and is not in the top notch of French ARs. I think other options would have been possible. Not surprising to see him committing an offside mistake.
DeletePages suffered a small injury during Juve-City at CWC, which, according to FFF sources, was the main reason not to appoint Turpin in KO stage in this competition. He is recovering though, and is coming back with a Ligue 2 game this Saturday (his first game since CWC).
You're right, Chefren.
DeleteHowever, tonight Turpin doesn't seem to be in great physical shape: very slow in sprinting, as if he was struggling to run.
I think the quality of the pitch is not helping…
DeleteOk good to know about pages don't know why Finjean he's not with him but ok. And imo he probably don't want to take any risk and a potential injury due to this terrible pitch.
DeleteCorrect PK.
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/4a2f45
DeleteA very very very generous PK !!
DeleteThe defender failed to "find" the ball, but I don't think he clearly hit the attacker, who was desperate to fall.
Considering possible different evaluation, correct silence from VAR
This is actually a crystal clear PK, rightfully accompanied by a YC from Turpin. The player only kicks the leg with the studs, and he knows it (look at his face). No complaints. Brisard would have intervened if not whistled live.
DeleteIt turned in a challenge and very open one in the end, Turpin did very well.
ReplyDeleteIMO a missed 2nd YC to Qarabag #35 in 48‘ though. Rather clear SPA holding for me.
DeleteVery good match, good control decisons always accepted by the players, AR mistake but nothing bad. good start in Europe for him.
DeleteAbsolutely poor approach by Rangers with many fouls.
ReplyDeleteGreat decisions by Zwayer with a YC before (both SPA and reckless, even borderline to RC), and then a RC for DOGSO right now.
Borosak is the UEFA version of Al-Marri... always chaos with him.
ReplyDeleteTotally routine decision, already a fairly big fail by Vincic-Kovacic to not detect this offside offence on the FoP, it is unbelieveable that it took the VMOs so long to finally intervene (and what happened with 'goal confirmed' signal?).
DeleteFrom my perspective, the very long check and the zoom showing the potential kick from the attacker on the defender's leg suggest that Borosak thought it was a foul and that's why he recommended an OFR. Punishing the offside - and thus being the reason why Vincic went to the monitor - left a rather amateurish impression tbh. Such a blatant offense must be identified faster.
DeleteWhich Al-Marri are you referring to Mikael: Abdullah Al-Marri (from 2022 World Cup), or Khamis Al-Marri (more recently in top AFC matches)?
Delete@DayStare9: the former. Moreover than the silly comments about Mourinho, it was pretty obvious that the communication from the VOR about the OFR-disallowed goal was what put Vincic off in the first half. It is remarkable that with soft skills and management, despite a number of "very poor" decisions in the first half, the Slovenian ref didn't manage to lose control and the overall resonance from the performance was actually okay, even bordering towards being good.
DeleteOFR for offside in Portugal. Vincic should have been sent to the screen sooner, took a long time.
ReplyDeletereally offside there ?
ReplyDeleteVery very doubtful Offside decision to cancel Benfica’s goal. Is attacker who doesn’t touch the ball and scored clearly influenced defensor ? Not very convincing for me. And too long check by Borosak to decide…nothing. No clear call in a very special context for Vincic…
ReplyDeleteThere was no need for such a long delay in verifying the play. Unfortunately, whoever was operating the VAR was very careless in this regard.
ReplyDeleteNo offside here. We can not talk about any impact on defender since its impossible after the touch of the ball to play at all after that, even if there was a physical contact with the other attacker in ofside position. Absurd intervention.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Borosak has a very "visible" (but not in positive meaning) style as VAR.. looks like he is very often unsure about what to do.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention that Mourinho is Mourinho: he kept bothering the fourth referee while checking the play.
ReplyDeletewhat is that ? there's nothing here also or i'm blinde ?
ReplyDeleteVery soft contact and pushing. But clear gesture by attacker before head goal. So supportable call IMO.
ReplyDeleteVideo of the offside call: https://streamin.me/v/fe8d6d97
ReplyDeleteWhere's the correct camera angle? Is this a foul?
ReplyDeleteFrom behind the goal if he give the foul on the far left there is nothing imo. really poor start
DeleteObvious foul missed by Otamendi and missed YC after…sorry but Vincic lenient style not adapted for me…poor management…
ReplyDeleteSecond disallowed goal against Benfica: https://streamin.me/v/a8d3040c
ReplyDeleteUnluckily best replay seems missing and maybe they don't have one, but based on what we can see it's at least supportable (it can be very likely soft, though).
DeleteAnd now Benfica's goal disallowed for a very soft, I'd say non-existent foul
ReplyDeleteLet's be honest.
ReplyDeleteWhen Mourinho talks about refereeing, especially in the press conferences before each game, the referee enters the field nervously, to the point of making decisions with trepidation. It's clear that Vincic is making decisions with a look of fear.
We are talking about vincic here, not a young ref who didn't have a big game before. If he's nervous to the point of making those decisions then UEFA need to appoint him. just a bad game imo
DeleteAgree. Definitively huge mistake by UEFA to appoint him here. Before entering the pitch, he can’t make a good performance in these mental conditions…
DeleteI can understand your opinion. But Mourinho likes to harass referees before games, that's what he likes.
DeleteAgree with that but tbf that should not be a problem for a referee of this caliber
DeleteVery poor level of refereeing by Vincic, sorry to say.
ReplyDeleteAnother YC missed and poor positionning stopping Fenerbahce attack. Agree, not good Vincic at all…
DeleteSomething I don’t understand: most Elite referees were already assigned in the third qualifying round, yet in the play-offs we suddenly see Vincic making his season debut.
ReplyDeleteA missed opportunity for me. Why not monitor the referees in the 3rd round and reward the best with a play-off UCL? The play-off games are hugely important — just look at the prize money difference between the Champions League and Europa League.
Vincic is a top referee, no doubt. But still, everyone should start a new season from zero, proving themselves again. That’s how you create a true high-performance culture. Instead, we see a referee given a wildcard for arguably the biggest match of the round.
RC for Talisca due to the open arm, hitting Barrenechea.
ReplyDeleteWell,from what I saw from Vincic tonight in such atmospohere and under high pressure,my comment is next- who knows better, he should come!
ReplyDeleteSo-so performance by Vincic. Very lenient first and strict after. But you can argue that in tense moments he seems very respected by players with a lot of discussion. So, mark of top referee id here. But not fautless performance at all..
Delete+1.
Delete83' crystal clear penalty whistled in Copenhagen. Kovacs had an easy one. It's also probably reckless (no YC given).
ReplyDeleteVincic showed very poor management today. If he didn't have such a good relationship with Ceferin, do you think Vincic could get these matches? Or let's put it this way: if another elite referee had managed today's match in this manner, what kind of penalty would they receive?
ReplyDeleteOverall, the referees in both matches (Siebert and Vincic) didn't play to their best advantage in many ways. While the German disrupted the flow of play in Istanbul with unnecessary stoppages, the Slovenian was lenient with several plays in Lisbon.
ReplyDeleteVincic has already refereed two European finals and doesn't need to be restricted to reach another final. As for Siebert, if he wants to be in a European final this season or in the coming ones, he needs to disrupt the flow of matches less.
Siebert in a Final, please dont make me laugh :) Siebert is not in good position and never was. Any game is a lottery when you put him and you can see by his appointments that's its only low profile games.
Delete