Contrasting memories: Real Madrid shines a light on the referee of the AEK Athens match
The Real Madrid website reviews the referee's history
Real Madrid's official website has shone a light on the Italian referee Maurizio Mariani, who will take charge of their clash against AEK Athens on Wednesday evening in the fourth round of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League.
The club confirmed Mariani's appointment via its official website. The match kicks off at the OPAP Arena at 8:45pm Cairo time, and it will mark the fourth time the Italian has officiated a Real Madrid game in the Champions League.
Mixed memories with the Italian referee
Those three previous outings brought mixed results for the Spanish side, and the club's website ran through each of them.
It started against Leipzig in the group stage of the 2022-2023 season, when Real Madrid ran out 2-0 winners.
Mariani returned the following season for a surprise. Real Madrid slipped to a single-goal defeat against France's Lille in the league phase of the 2024-2025 season.
His third match came against Manchester City in the first leg of the round of 16 in the 2025-2026 edition. Real Madrid thumped them 3-0.
Two wins from three with Mariani in the middle. The Spanish side will want the fourth to follow that pattern, and to steer well clear of a repeat of the Lille defeat.
