UEFA has announced that Szymon Marciniak will officiate the crucial Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes. This appointment comes as Manchester City faces a potential elimination from the league phase due to disappointing results in their recent matches. The team currently sits in 22nd place and needs to secure victories in their remaining games to hope for a spot in the knockout round.
Under the management of Pep Guardiola, Manchester City struggled significantly, suffering a notable 4-1 loss to Sporting CP in November, followed by a frustrating 3-3 draw at home against Feyenoord. In their latest outing, they faced Juventus in Italy and were defeated 2-0. To progress, City must win their next two fixtures against PSG and Club Brugge.
Szymon Marciniak, the 44-year-old Polish referee, has officiated several noteworthy matches involving both teams in the past, including Manchester City’s historic Champions League final victory over Inter Milan. He has become a familiar presence in high-stakes fixtures, having also refereed PSG in a close home defeat to Atletico Madrid earlier this season.
Joining Marciniak in officiating duties will be assistant referees Tomasz Listkiewicz and Adam Kupsik, while Tomasz Kwiatkowski will serve as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), with support from Tiago Martins. Damian Kos will act as the Fourth Official, rounding out an all-Polish team for the matchup.
This match represents a pivotal moment for both teams, especially for Manchester City as they aim to rewrite a disappointing chapter in their Champions League campaign. A determined performance against a formidable PSG side could reignite their ambitions and pave the way for a successful run in the tournament.