UEFA has officially named French referee François Letexier to oversee the highly anticipated UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg between Real Madrid and Arsenal, set to take place on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Letexier, 35, is no stranger to high-profile fixtures. He previously officiated the Euro 2020 final between England and Spain in Germany and has built a reputation for handling tense European encounters. This upcoming clash marks the fifth time he will referee a Real Madrid match.
The reigning European champions, Real Madrid, face an uphill battle as they attempt to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit suffered at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal delivered a dominant performance in London, leaving Madrid with little margin for error in the return leg.
Letexier has already been in charge of several key matches involving Real Madrid in recent years. Earlier this season, he officiated their 2-0 group-stage defeat to Liverpool. He also refereed two of their games last season: the thrilling 3-3 quarter-final first-leg draw against Manchester City at the Bernabéu and their 4-2 group-stage victory over Napoli.
With the stakes high and tensions expected to run equally so, Letexier’s experience at the top level will be put to the test as both clubs vie for a spot in the semi-finals of Europe’s elite competition.
