Italian Refereeing Team to Officiate Real Madrid vs AEK Athens in Champions League

The European Football Association announced the appointment of an Italian refereeing team led by Maurizio Mariani to officiate the match between AEK Athens and Real Madrid, scheduled for Wednesday in the Champions League. The team includes assistant referees Daniele Bindoni and Stefano Alasio, while Alejandro De Paulo will manage the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology with the help of Valerio Mariano, and Simone Souza will serve as the fourth official. Mariani has officiated 18 Champions League matches over the past four seasons, including three involving Real Madrid, winning two against Leipzig and Manchester City, and losing one against Lille. The two teams have met four times before, each winning one match and drawing twice, with AEK Athens remaining unbeaten at home against Real Madrid.