Marco Guida appointed for Barcelona-Galatasaray as his record raises concern

The appointment of Italian referee Marco Guida for Barcelona’s match against Galatasaray has raised concern at the Catalan club. The fixture is scheduled for Tuesday evening at Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul, on matchday two of the Champions League league phase. The European Union’s refereeing commission announced the choice. Mundo Deportivo reports that Guida, 45, will be assisted by compatriot Marco Di Bello in the video review room.

The match will be Guida’s third European assignment of the season and his second in the Champions League, following a game in the competition’s qualifying rounds. For Barcelona, it will be the Italian’s third time refereeing one of the club’s European matches. The Catalans have not won either of the previous two.

The most recent of those games came last season, when Barcelona drew 1-1 away to Newcastle United in the first leg of the round of 16. The first was on December 13, 2022, when Barcelona lost 3-2 away to Royal Antwerp in the Champions League group stage.

Guida has also refereed Galatasaray twice, with the Turkish club recording one win and one defeat. His most recent match involving them was last season, when Galatasaray lost 5-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League league phase. Guida began his refereeing career in 2010 and received his international badge in 2014; he is now considered one of the most experienced referees in Italian football.