Referee named for UEFA Champions League match between Ajax and Real Madrid

UEFA confirmed the appointment of Polish referee Szymon Marciniak as the man in charge of the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 between Ajax and Real Madrid.

Per Realmadrid.com
Szymon Marciniak will referee the Champions League round of 16 first-leg match between Ajax and Real Madrid on Wednesday in the Johan Cruyff Arena (9pm CET). It will be the fifth time he has overseen a Whites’ match. In the Group Stage of the last Champions League, the Polish official refereed the match against Tottenham (1-1).

In the 16/17 campaign, also in the Group Stage, he was in charge of the match against Borussia Dortmund (2-2) and in the 15/16 season, the second leg of the round of 16 against Roma at the Bernabéu (2-0). Last August he refereed the European Super Cup against Atlético in Tallín (2-4).

Real Madrid are the heavy favorites to not only advance to the next round of the competition as they should also take care of business in this first leg. Ajax are usually quite decent offensively but they tend to struggle on defense, something that could very well cost them against Los Blancos.