UEFA Champions League Referee Appointments for March 10: Full Breakdown
UEFA has confirmed the referee teams for Tuesday’s Champions League ties, and the officiating profiles are just as intriguing as the football itself.
The first night of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 on March 10, 2026 is not only about star players and tactical battles. For a site built around officiating, the bigger story is the four referee appointments confirmed by UEFA: Jesús Gil Manzano for Galatasaray vs Liverpool, Espen Eskås for Atalanta vs Bayern München, Serdar Gözübüyük for Atlético de Madrid vs Tottenham, and Marco Guida for Newcastle vs Barcelona.
In stylistic terms, these are four very different profiles. Third-party season tracking suggests Gil Manzano has had the most volatile disciplinary profile, Eskås has been relatively measured in Europe, Gözübüyük has been the most card-heavy of this group in this season’s Champions League, and Guida has combined a calmer European card rate with a notable willingness to award penalties domestically. That should make Tuesday an especially interesting night for anyone watching not just the football, but the decisions around it.
Galatasaray vs Liverpool: Jesús Gil Manzano takes charge in Istanbul
UEFA has appointed Jesús Gil Manzano (Spain) as referee for Galatasaray vs Liverpool. His assistants are Ángel Nevado and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso, with Guillermo Cuadra Fernández on VAR, Valentín Gómez as AVAR, and Juan Martínez Munuera as fourth official. Gil Manzano was born in 1984 and has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2014.
From a numbers perspective, this is one of the most interesting appointments of the night. PlayerStats lists Gil Manzano at 5 Champions League matches this season with 15 total cards and 3 reds, while KickoffScore’s broader 2025/26 tracking shows 19 matches, 87 yellow cards, 6 reds, 5 penalties, and 4.89 total cards per game. That profile suggests a referee who can keep rhythm for stretches, but one who is also fully prepared to make major disciplinary decisions when a match suddenly turns volatile.
Atalanta vs Bayern München: Espen Eskås gets a major test in Bergamo
For Atalanta vs Bayern München, UEFA has selected Espen Eskås (Norway). He will work with Jan Erik Engan and Isaak Elias Bashevkin on the lines, while Tiago Martins is on VAR, Dennis Higler is AVAR, and Sigurd Kringstad is the fourth official. Eskås was born in 1988 and has been on the FIFA list since 2017.
Eskås arrives with a steadier European profile than some of Tuesday’s other referees. PlayerStats credits him with 7 Champions League matches in 2025/26 and 21 total cards, while Valuestats shows a broader tracked average of 3.5 yellow cards per match and 0.08 reds per match. The numbers point toward a referee who usually prefers control over theatrics, which could matter in a tie where Bayern’s attacking pressure and Atalanta’s physical transitions are likely to create repeated judgment calls in midfield and around the box.
Atlético de Madrid vs Tottenham: Serdar Gözübüyük may be the key figure of the night
UEFA’s appointment for Atlético de Madrid vs Tottenham is Serdar Gözübüyük (Netherlands), with Patrick Inia and Rogier Honig as assistants. Pol van Boekel will handle VAR, Rob Dieperink is AVAR, and Jeroen Manschot is fourth official. Gözübüyük was born in 1985 in Haarlem and has been a FIFA referee since 2012.
This looks like the most combustible refereeing fit of the four ties. PlayerStats shows Gözübüyük with 5 Champions League matches this season and 27 total cards, which is the highest European card load among Tuesday’s appointed referees. KickoffScore’s wider 2025/26 tracking also credits him with 29 matches, 115 yellow cards, 3 reds, 9 penalties, and 4.07 total cards per game. In a stadium like the Metropolitano, with Atlético’s intensity and Tottenham’s direct attacking transitions, that statistical profile makes Gözübüyük one of the most important figures on the pitch before a ball is even kicked.
Newcastle vs Barcelona: Marco Guida brings experience to St James’ Park
At St James’ Park, UEFA has appointed Marco Guida (Italy) for Newcastle vs Barcelona. His assistants are Giorgio Peretti and Giuseppe Perrotti, with Daniele Chiffi on VAR, Marco Di Bello as AVAR, and Matteo Marcenaro as fourth official. Guida was born in 1981 and has been FIFA-listed since 2014.
Guida’s recent profile is slightly different from Gözübüyük’s. PlayerStats lists him with 6 Champions League matches this season and 20 total cards, while Valuestats gives him an overall tracked average of 3.95 yellow cards and 0.09 reds per match. At the same time, Transfermarkt’s Serie A penalty table shows Guida awarding 6 penalties in 11 league matches this season. The balance is interesting: he has not been the most card-heavy official in Europe, but he clearly does not shy away from big-box decisions when he believes the evidence is there.
The Var Verdict
For The VAR Verdict, this is a strong officiating slate because each match brings a distinct refereeing personality. Gil Manzano brings high-stakes volatility, Eskås brings a calmer European profile, Gözübüyük arrives with the sharpest recent Champions League disciplinary trend, and Guida combines experience with decisive penalty numbers. That does not guarantee controversy on March 10, but it does mean the referees are very likely to shape the rhythm, temperature, and key talking points of the night.
