Having narrowly lost 2-1 in the first leg in Prague last week, Olympique Lyonnais players know exactly what’s at stake. Under pressure from Paulo Fonseca, they must secure a two-goal margin to avoid the agony of extra time—or risk an early exit. UEFA has responded by assigning one of Europe’s most trusted referees to oversee this high-stakes encounter. At 45, Szymon Marciniak brings unmatched experience to Groupama Stadium, fresh from his role as referee for the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.

Olympique Lyonnais’ mixed history with the Polish official

This appointment will stir memories for Lyon supporters. Marciniak has taken charge of five previous matches involving the club, including a painful 5-1 defeat to Barcelona in 2019. He also presided over Lyon’s 3-1 Champions league victory over Ajax Amsterdam in 2017—though it wasn’t enough to secure qualification. His other encounters with Lyon ended in narrow losses: 0-1 to Juventus in 2016 and 2-1 to Viktoria Plzen in 2014.