The Champions League referee appointments for Wednesday, September 9 are confirmed, with Italian official Davide Massa handed the headline Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid clash at Anfield.
Germany’s Sven Jablonski will referee Barcelona’s opening European match against Feyenoord, while Sweden’s Glenn Nyberg takes another major assignment as Napoli host Arsenal. Mykola Balakin will oversee Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava, Espen Eskås gets Sporting CP vs Galatasaray and Nenad Minaković has Stuttgart vs Viking.
UEFA officially confirmed all six main-referee appointments for Wednesday’s Matchday 1 programme.
Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid referee: Davide Massa
Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Kick-off: 21:00 CEST, 20:00 BST
Stadium: Anfield
Referee: Davide Massa, Italy
Assistant referees: Filippo Meli and Alessio Berti, Italy
Fourth official: Matteo Marcenaro, Italy
VAR: Marco Di Bello, Italy
AVAR: Daniele Chiffi, Italy
Liverpool have officially confirmed Massa’s complete officiating team for the Champions League opener.
It is one of the highest-profile appointments of Wednesday’s six fixtures.
Massa is an experienced UEFA referee who has been FIFA-listed since 2014. Third-party tracking currently records seven matches across competitions in 2026/27 before this appointment, with 24 yellow cards and two red cards. Those figures should be treated as tracked statistics rather than an official UEFA complete-season statistical record.
Massa’s previous Liverpool match
Massa has refereed Liverpool once previously.
That came in March 2025 when Liverpool beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
Massa showed two yellow cards in that match.
Liverpool therefore have a tracked record of one match and one victory under the Italian.
Massa’s record with Atlético Madrid
Atlético Madrid have considerably more experience with Massa.
Available referee tracking lists three previous Atlético matches under him, producing one victory, one draw and one defeat.
Those include a 0-0 Champions League draw against Club Brugge, Atlético’s 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in January 2025 and last season’s 4-0 defeat away to Arsenal.
That Arsenal game is particularly recent. Massa handled it during the 2025/26 league phase.
The numbers are useful context, but they should not be interpreted as evidence that an appointment favours either club.
What kind of referee is Davide Massa?
Massa is experienced in managing high-level European matches and is generally comfortable allowing physical contests before escalating his disciplinary control where required.
His recent tracked numbers show that he is certainly not reluctant to use cards, but describing him simply as a “strict referee” would be too simplistic.
Anfield could present a demanding test.
Atlético are traditionally highly competitive in defensive duels and game-management situations, while Liverpool are likely to play with considerable tempo and pressure at home.
For Massa, consistency around holding, delaying restarts, tactical fouls and dissent could become as important as the obvious penalty-area decisions.
Marco Di Bello is VAR for Liverpool vs Atlético
Marco Di Bello will lead the video operation, supported by Daniele Chiffi as AVAR. Liverpool officially confirmed both appointments.
Di Bello is another highly experienced Italian official and has extensive experience both as a referee and video match official.
Under the current 2026/27 VAR Protocol, the video team can intervene in reviewable situations involving goals, penalties, direct red cards and mistaken identity, as well as the new provision concerning a clearly incorrect second caution resulting in a sending-off.
The fundamental principle still applies: VAR should not intervene merely because Di Bello would personally have made a different subjective decision from Massa.
Three things to watch at Anfield
1. Holding and contact inside the penalty area
Atlético’s defensive approach can create close marking and physical contests at set pieces. Massa will need to establish a clear threshold early and apply it consistently at both ends.
2. Tactical fouls in transition
Liverpool can attack quickly after turnovers. Challenges designed to stop promising attacks could test Massa’s disciplinary threshold, particularly if players repeatedly commit similar offences.
3. How quickly VAR intervenes
With an experienced pairing of Massa and Di Bello, UEFA will expect a disciplined VAR process. Subjective decisions should stay with the referee unless the replay clearly crosses the intervention threshold.
The VAR Verdict pre-match assessment: ✅ Strong appointment
Massa has enough Champions League experience for a high-pressure fixture at Anfield, and Di Bello gives UEFA an experienced Italian VAR alongside him.
The appointment itself should not be controversial.
Barcelona vs Feyenoord referee: Sven Jablonski
Barcelona’s Champions League opener against Feyenoord will be refereed by Sven Jablonski of Germany.
The match kicks off at 18:45 CEST at the Spotify Camp Nou, which Barcelona officially confirms as the venue.
The full appointment is:
| Role | Official |
|---|---|
| Referee | Sven Jablonski, Germany |
| Assistant referee | Eduard Beitinger, Germany |
| Assistant referee | Eric Müller, Germany |
| Fourth official | Tobias Reichel, Germany |
| VAR | Bastian Dankert, Germany |
| AVAR | Andrew Dallas, Scotland |
Detailed appointment listings confirm the complete team, while Spanish reporting separately confirms Jablonski and Dankert as referee and VAR.
This is a particularly interesting appointment because Jablonski has never previously refereed Barcelona or Feyenoord in a senior UEFA competition.
It will also be his first match at the Spotify Camp Nou.
The VAR appointment adds substantial experience. Bastian Dankert is one of Germany’s established video officials, with Andrew Dallas working as AVAR.
The VAR Verdict pre-match assessment: ⚖️ One to watch
This is a significant European assignment for Jablonski.
The presence of Dankert and Dallas in the video team gives UEFA considerable VAR experience behind a referee who is still building his Champions League profile.
Napoli vs Arsenal referee: Glenn Nyberg
Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg will take charge of Napoli vs Arsenal at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Kick-off is 21:00 CEST.
The officiating team is:
| Role | Official |
|---|---|
| Referee | Glenn Nyberg, Sweden |
| Assistant referee | Mahbod Beigi, Sweden |
| Assistant referee | Andreas Söderkvist, Sweden |
| Fourth official | Adam Ladebäck, Sweden |
| VAR | Carlos del Cerro Grande, Spain |
| AVAR | Jérôme Brisard, France |
The full appointment has been reported from Napoli’s official information, while UEFA confirms Nyberg as the referee.
Nyberg has become a regular figure in UEFA’s major competitions and gets another prominent Champions League assignment here.
The VAR appointment is also notable.
Carlos del Cerro Grande moved into specialist video officiating after his elite on-field career and remains one of UEFA’s experienced VAR options. French official Jérôme Brisard will support him.
The VAR Verdict pre-match assessment: ✅ Experienced team
Nyberg, Del Cerro Grande and Brisard give UEFA an experienced combination for what could be one of Wednesday’s quickest and most technically demanding matches.
Penalty-area contact and potential high-speed DOGSO situations could be particularly important.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava referee: Mykola Balakin
Ukraine’s Mykola Balakin has been appointed to Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava at the Parc des Princes.
PSG’s official match page confirms Balakin as referee and the 21:00 kick-off.
The full team is:
| Role | Official |
|---|---|
| Referee | Mykola Balakin, Ukraine |
| Assistant referee | Oleksandr Berkut, Ukraine |
| Assistant referee | Viktor Matyash, Ukraine |
| Fourth official | Dmytro Panchyshyn, Ukraine |
| VAR | Michael Salisbury, England |
| AVAR | Matej Jug, Slovenia |
Appointment listings confirm Salisbury and Jug in the video team.
Balakin has not previously refereed PSG as the main referee, making this a new experience for both official and club.
Michael Salisbury provides an experienced video presence after serving as AVAR in Real Madrid vs Inter on Tuesday.
Sporting CP vs Galatasaray referee: Espen Eskås
Norway’s Espen Eskås will referee Sporting CP vs Galatasaray at the Estádio José Alvalade.
Sporting officially confirms the match takes place in Lisbon on Wednesday, while Galatasaray confirms Eskås and his team.
The complete appointment is:
| Role | Official |
|---|---|
| Referee | Espen Eskås, Norway |
| Assistant referee | Jan Erik Engan, Norway |
| Assistant referee | Alf Olav Rossland, Norway |
| Fourth official | Sigurd Kringstad, Norway |
| VAR | Christian Dingert, Germany |
| AVAR | Bram Van Driessche, Belgium |
The full refereeing team has also been confirmed through UEFA appointment reporting.
The VAR pairing is especially experienced.
Dingert has worked extensively as a UEFA video match official, while Van Driessche was the VAR responsible for the Ethan Mbappé red-card review during Lille vs Real Betis on Tuesday.
That review ultimately produced the correct red-card decision after an on-field review.
Stuttgart vs Viking referee: Nenad Minaković
Serbian referee Nenad Minaković will oversee Stuttgart vs Viking at the MHP Arena.
VfB Stuttgart officially confirms the fixture for 18:45 CEST at the MHP Arena.
The full officiating team is:
| Role | Official |
|---|---|
| Referee | Nenad Minaković, Serbia |
| Assistant referee | Nikola Borović, Serbia |
| Assistant referee | Boško Božović, Serbia |
| Fourth official | Danilo Nikolić, Serbia |
| VAR | Ivan Bebek, Croatia |
| AVAR | Momčilo Marković, Serbia |
UEFA confirms Minaković as the main referee, with detailed appointment listings confirming Bebek as VAR.
This is a lower-profile fixture internationally than Liverpool vs Atlético or Napoli vs Arsenal, but it remains an important Champions League assignment.
Bebek brings substantial international refereeing experience to the video operation.
Full Champions League referee appointments for September 9
| Match | Referee | VAR |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona vs Feyenoord | Sven Jablonski, Germany | Bastian Dankert, Germany |
| Stuttgart vs Viking | Nenad Minaković, Serbia | Ivan Bebek, Croatia |
| Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid | Davide Massa, Italy | Marco Di Bello, Italy |
| Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava | Mykola Balakin, Ukraine | Michael Salisbury, England |
| Sporting CP vs Galatasaray | Espen Eskås, Norway | Christian Dingert, Germany |
| Napoli vs Arsenal | Glenn Nyberg, Sweden | Carlos del Cerro Grande, Spain |
UEFA officially confirms Jablonski, Minaković, Massa, Balakin, Eskås and Nyberg as Wednesday’s six referees.
Quick answers
Who is the referee for Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid?
Davide Massa of Italy will referee Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid at Anfield. Marco Di Bello is the VAR and Daniele Chiffi is AVAR.
Who is the referee for Barcelona vs Feyenoord?
Sven Jablonski of Germany will referee Barcelona vs Feyenoord, with Bastian Dankert as VAR.
Who is the referee for Napoli vs Arsenal?
Glenn Nyberg of Sweden will referee Napoli vs Arsenal. Carlos del Cerro Grande is VAR and Jérôme Brisard is AVAR.
Has Davide Massa refereed Liverpool before?
Yes. Massa’s only previous Liverpool match was their 1-0 Champions League victory away to Paris Saint-Germain in March 2025.
Has Davide Massa refereed Atlético Madrid before?
Yes. Third-party referee tracking lists three previous Atlético matches under Massa, with one win, one draw and one defeat.
Which is the biggest referee appointment on Wednesday?
Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid is arguably the headline assignment, and UEFA itself used Massa’s appointment prominently when publishing the Matchday 1 referee list. Napoli vs Arsenal is another major assignment for Glenn Nyberg, while Sven Jablonski faces an important test in Barcelona vs Feyenoord.
Final pre-match VAR Verdict
Wednesday’s appointments combine established UEFA referees with officials continuing to build their Champions League experience.
⚖️ Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid is the headline appointment. Davide Massa has considerable Champions League experience, previous history with both clubs and an experienced Italian VAR team led by Marco Di Bello.
⚖️ Barcelona vs Feyenoord is perhaps the most interesting individual referee test. Sven Jablonski will referee Barcelona for the first time in senior European competition, with experienced VAR Bastian Dankert providing support.
⚖️ Napoli vs Arsenal gets a strong international team headed by Glenn Nyberg and specialist VAR Carlos del Cerro Grande.
The other three matches also feature experienced video officials, including Michael Salisbury in Paris, Christian Dingert in Lisbon and Ivan Bebek in Stuttgart.
There is no obvious controversial appointment in Wednesday’s selection.
For The VAR Verdict, the three fixtures carrying the greatest potential refereeing interest are Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid, Napoli vs Arsenal and Barcelona vs Feyenoord.
Our post-match review will assess any significant penalties, red cards, offside decisions, second-yellow incidents and VAR interventions under the current 2026/27 IFAB Laws of the Game and VAR Protocol.
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