The 42-year-old Polish referee, Szymon Marciniak, is the official trusted with steering one of world football’s most anticipated matches. This Wednesday’s clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid is famously billed as a pinnacle encounter in the Champions League, featuring Carlo Ancelotti opposite Pep Guardiola. Vinicius Jr. and Erling Haaland are among the standout stars expected to influence the scoreline, making the Etihad Stadium a focal point for fans and pundits alike. To ensure the game proceeds smoothly and fairly, UEFA has appointed a referee with experience at the highest level: Szymon Marciniak.
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Who is Szymon Marciniak, the referee for Manchester City vs Real Madrid in the Champions League
Szymon Marciniak, a seasoned Polish official, brings a wealth of big-match experience to the whistle. He famously refereed the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar, a landmark assignment that highlighted his ability to manage high-pressure situations on football’s biggest stage. The upcoming match in England marks his seventh involvement as a lead referee in this edition of Europe’s premier club competition.
Marciniak has previously overseen a string of high-profile ties, including Atlético Madrid versus Porto, Barcelona versus Inter Milan, Dinamo Zagreb against Milan, Olympique de Marseille versus Tottenham, Porto against Inter Milan, and Napoli versus Milan. He is supported by assistants Pawel Sokolnicki and Tomasz Listkiewic, while Tomasz Kwiatkowski and Bartosz Frankowski, also from Poland, stand in the VAR role. The fourth official is Romanian official Istvan Kovacs.
Real Madrid statistics with Szymon Marciniak as referee
Marciniak has handled Real Madrid on five occasions. While results have varied, supporters of Real Madrid often recall a notable pattern: several significant matches under his supervision ended in favorable outcomes for the team. The record includes encounters such as Real Madrid against Chelsea and Sheriff, with other memorable fixtures dating back to the 2015-16 season against Roma and the 2016-17 clash with Borussia Dortmund. These memories contribute to a sense of confidence among some Madrid supporters when he is assigned high-stakes games. The broader context of his career reflects a referee trusted to manage both the pace and the tension of elite European football.
Analysis and commentary around Marciniak emphasize his decisive control, clear signaling, and experienced management of player disputes during pivotal moments. His appointment for this clash aligns with UEFA’s approach to deploying referees who have demonstrated consistency across domestic and international competitions, ensuring standards are maintained at the highest level of the game.