Champions League Derby Set for Wednesday

The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg between Real Madrid and Manchester City will be officiated by Italian referee Maurizio Mariani. This match marks the fifth consecutive year these two European giants have clashed in the Champions League, a rivalry described as a true Champions League derby by Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

Mariani’s Experience

Mariani has officiated five Champions League matches this season, including two matches involving Atlético de Madrid. He also took charge of PSG – Bayern Munich (1-2) and OM – Newcastle (2-1).

Previous Encounters

Mariani has previously refereed Manchester City, overseeing a dominant 5-0 victory against Sparta Prague in 2024. His record with Real Madrid is more varied, with one win and one defeat in the two matches he has officiated: a 2-0 win against RB Leipzig in 2022 and a 0-1 defeat against LOSC last season.

Key Match Details

• Kick-off time: Wednesday, March 11 at 8 p.m. GMT (3 p.m. ET. 1:30 a.m. IST and 7 a.m. AEDT, Thursday)
• Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
• Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy)
• VAR: Marco Di Bello (Italy)

Injury Concerns

Both teams are dealing with significant injury concerns. Real Madrid will be without Álvaro Carreras, David Alaba, Éder Militão, Dani Ceballos, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, and Rodrygo. Manchester City will be missing Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, with Max Alleyne listed as doubtful.

Talking Points

The matchup between Antonio Rüdiger and Erling Haaland is expected to be a key battle during the match.