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Slavko Vinčić to Referee Real Madrid-Benfica Champions League Playoff
Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the second leg of the Champions League playoff between Real Madrid and Benfica, taking place at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday at 9:00 PM CEST. This match determines which team advances to the round of 16 of the Champions League.
Refereeing Crew
Vinčić will be assisted by his fellow Slovenian compatriots, Tomaz Klancknic and Andraz Kovacic. David Smajc will serve as the fourth official. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties will be handled by German Christian Dingert, with Italian Daniele Chiffi as the Assistant VAR (AVAR).RTP
Vinčić’s History with Benfica
This will be Vinčić’s seventh match involving Benfica, and his third this season. Benfica’s record in matches officiated by Vinčić is two wins (against Fenerbahçe 1-0 and Napoli 2-0), three draws (Fenerbahçe 1-1, PSV 0-0, and Ajax 2-2), and one defeat (Chelsea 4-1 after extra time in the Club World Cup).Maisfutebol
Recent Controversy
The appointment comes after a controversial first leg in Lisbon, marred by allegations of racism involving Benfica’s Prestianni and Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior. The incident was overseen by French referee François Letexier, who briefly halted the match to activate the anti-racism protocol.Nogomania Prestianni denied the accusations, while Vinícius Júnior and other Real Madrid players confirmed the alleged offense.
Previous Real Madrid Matches Officiated by Vinčić
Vinčić has previously refereed three Real Madrid matches in the Champions League:
- Borussia Dortmund-Real Madrid (0-2) – 2023/24 Final
- Real Madrid-Milan (1-3) – 2024/25 Group Stage
- Real Madrid-Juventus (1-0) – 2025/26 Group Stage
Other Appointments
João Pinheiro, a Portuguese referee, has likewise been appointed to officiate the match between Juventus and Galatasaray in Turin, where Galatasaray holds a three-goal advantage.