The Champions League promises to be hot, and not just on the pitch. Two days before the clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayer Leverkusen, scheduled for Tuesday evening at 9 p.m., the appointment of the referee is already controversial. UEFA formalized this Sunday the name of Jesús Gil Manzano, 41-year-old Spanish referee, to lead the match.
Accustomed to major European fixtures, Gil Manzano already has 27 Champions League matches to his credit, including a semi-final between AC Milan and Inter in 2023. He has also refereed PSG four times, for a mixed record: two victories, a draw and a defeat, the latter on the Milan pitch last season (2-1). A referee with a strict temperament, known for his authoritarian management of matches.
In seven games this season, the native of Don Benito has handed out 26 yellow cards, three red cards and whistled three penalties. He will be assisted on Tuesday by Ángel Nevado and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso, while Carlos del Cerro Grande and Jarred Gillett will officiate at the VAR. A 100% Spanish quartet, which does not necessarily reassure the Parisian club.
Manzano does not tremble
The controversy is all the more intense as Gil Manzano stood out this weekend in La Liga during the match between Barça and Girona (2-1). He handed Frenkie De Jong a yellow card for protest, before sending off furious coach Hansi Flick for a second warning. The German technician left the field under tension, illustrating the explosive nature of the matches managed by Manzano.
Luis Enrique's PSG, which remains on two victories in the competition and is aiming for three to consolidate its leadership position, knows what to expect. Verdict Tuesday on the BayArena lawn.
