The return of the Champions League after the international break has been confirmed with the assignment of referees for the first group stage matches. The match between Inter and Bruges, scheduled for Tuesday evening at the San Siro, will be refereed by Norwegian Rohit Saggi, who will preside over a match with the Nerazzurri for the first time. Saggi, who has already worked in several European competitions, was chosen for his experience and neutrality.
Also on Tuesday evening, but in another venue, the Estadio de la Cerámica will host the match between Villarreal and Napoli. The task of referee will be entrusted to the German Daniel Siebert. Siebert has already met Napoli on two previous occasions, both with unsatisfactory results for the Neapolitan team. The first occurred during the round of 32 of the 2020-2021 Europa League, when Napoli, led by Gattuso, won 2-1 against Granada but was unable to recover the negative result of the first leg. The second, more recent one, dates back to the 6-2 defeat against Eindhoven in the group stage of the Champions League, one of the most bitter defeats in the club's recent history.
Both matches represent key moments for the teams involved: Inter tries to consolidate their position in the group stage, while Napoli must try to recover morale after European defeats. The chosen referees, Saggi and Siebert, will have to guarantee clean play and respect UEFA regulations, helping to maintain the integrity of the competitions.
With these awards, UEFA confirms its trust in international judges, as teams prepare to compete in an increasingly competitive European context. The results of these matches will influence the final positions in the group stage and define the prospects for the subsequent stages of the Champions League.