UEFA has announced the appointment of Polish referee Simon Marciniak to officiate the second leg of the Round of 16 in the Champions League, which will bring together Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Marciniak is considered one of the top referees on the European scene, enjoying the trust of UEFA to manage major matches, making him the ideal choice for this crucial showdown between the Madrid rivals.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid's record under Marciniak's officiating:

Real Madrid: He has officiated 9 matches (4 wins - 3 losses - 2 draws).

Atletico Madrid: He has officiated 8 matches (7 wins - 1 loss).

Atletico Madrid holds a positive memory with the Polish referee, as he previously officiated the 2018 UEFA Super Cup final, which ended with Atletico defeating Real Madrid 4-2.

Notable matches officiated by Marciniak:

He officiated the match between Real Madrid and Atalanta this season, which ended with a 3-2 victory for the royal club.

He also officiated the match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich last season, which ended with a 2-1 victory for the Merengues.

Additionally, he was the referee for the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid this season, which ended with Atletico Madrid winning with a late goal from Correa.