Sports writing, Feb 14 (EFE) .- The Dutchman Björn Kuipers will be the main referee of the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League this Tuesday (21.00 CET) at the Camp Nou between Barcelona and Paris Saint -Germain.
UEFA confirmed this Sunday that the refereeing team for that match will be led by Björn Kuipers, as the main referee. His compatriots Sander van Roekel and Erwin Zeinstra will assist him from the wings and Serdar Gözübüyük will be the fourth official.
For his part, the person in charge of the video arbitration system will be Pol van Boekel, together with Dennis Higler.
The only previous match between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain refereed by Björn Kuipers, in the quarterfinals of the Champions League in the 2012/13 season, ended with a draw (1-1). That result, added to the 2-2 of the first leg in Paris, gave the pass to the Catalan team.
In contrast, in Björn Kuipers’ last visit to Camp Nou, Barcelona defeated Liverpool 3-0, with a goal from Luis Suárez and a double from Leo Messi. That triumph, in the first leg of the 2018/19 Champions League semifinals, was not enough for the Barça squad to reach the final, since in the return leg at Anfield they fell 4-0.
Kuipers also managed Barcelona-Juventus in the 2016/17 season (0-0) at the Camp Nou, Barcelona-Milan in 2011/12 (3-1), Barcelona-Dinamo Kiev in 2009/10 (2- 0).
Away he led Barcelona against Inter Milan in the 2019/20 season (1-2), against Roma in the 2015/16 campaign (1-1), against Celtic in 2012/13 (2-1) and against Sttutgart in the 2009/10 season (1-1).
The Dutchman also managed Napoli-PSG in the 2018/19 season (1-1), Chelsea-PSG in the 2014/15 season (2-2) and PSG-Dinamo Kiev in the 2012/13 season (4- 1).
The other match to be played on Tuesday, between Leipzig and Liverpool in Budapest, will be led by Slavko Vincic of Slovenia.
His assistants will be Tomaž Klancnik and Andraž Kovacic and Matej Jug will be the fourth official. The Italian Massimiliano Irrati will be responsible for the VAR, assisted by Jure Praprotnik. EFE
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