The Italian referee MarcoGuida will be in charge of directing the duel on the second day of the group stage of the Champions League, which will be held this Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. at the AliSamiYen stadium in Istanbul, between FCBarcelona and Galatasaray. UEFA's decision was recently confirmed and has become a topic of conversation among European football fans, as Guida has been in charge of previous matches in which Barça did not achieve victory.
Guida, 45, began his career as a referee in 2010 and gained international status in 2014. Since then, he has been considered one of the most experienced referees in Italy and has participated in several European competitions. This season, he will be the third referee to officiate a Champions League match, and the second in the group stage, after having overseen a qualifying round. In the VAR, the team will have the support of his compatriot MarcodiBello, who is also recognized for his precision in technological decisions.
This will be the third time that Guida referees a match with FCBarcelona in European competitions. The first meeting was in the group stage of the 2022-23 season, when Barça lost 3-2 against ClubBrugge in Antwerp. The second was in the round of 16 stage last season, when the Blaugrana team tied 1-1 with Newcastle United in England. In both cases, the result did not favor the Catalan squad. Unlike these matches, the last time Guida was on the field with Barça was in the group stage of the Champions League for the 2023-24 season, where the Turkish team Galatasaray won 5-1 over Eintracht Frankfurt.
The referee has also witnessed matches between Barça and Galatasaray in the past, although with mixed results. On the last occasion they met in the group stage, the Turkish team emerged victorious with a resounding 5‑1, adding an element of unpredictability to the next match. Barcelona, which seeks to consolidate itself in the group stage, will have to face an opponent that has already demonstrated its ability to overcome the great European teams.
The match will be broadcast on Movistar+ and will be followed by millions of followers around the world. With the presence of Guida, the match promises to be a high-tension duel, where each referee's decision could influence the fate of both teams in the competition. Barcelona, with their history of mixed results under this referee, will have to prepare for a match where precision and discipline will be key to avoid repeating previous failures. The next phase of the Champions League is approaching, and the result of this match could have significant implications for the qualification of both teams.