Barcelona is preparing for a crucial match against Inter Milan next Tuesday at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final. Although the Catalan team will first visit Real Valladolid in Round 34 of La Liga at the José Zorrilla Stadium, Hansi Flick’s squad is fully focused on the upcoming match against Milan, which could be decided by small details, as demonstrated by the exciting 3-3 draw in the first leg at Montjuïc.
Hansi Flick is eager to have Alejandro Balde and Robert Lewandowski back for the second leg, as their presence could make a significant difference in Tuesday’s match. However, one source of concern within Barcelona is the referee nominated for the match. According to the Polish newspaper Meczyki, the controversial Szymon Marciniak is the most likely to officiate.
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Marciniak recently sparked controversy by disallowing Julian Alvarez’s goal in a penalty shootout against Real Madrid, which ignited a wave of criticism. According to Sport, Barcelona has yet to receive official confirmation from UEFA, but concerns are growing among Blaugrana fans, who are awaiting the official announcement on Sunday.
Although Marciniak is a prominent and UEFA-approved referee, his controversial record, particularly with Real Madrid, raises doubts among Barcelona fans.
In addition to disallowing Alvarez’s goal for a double touch, Marciniak previously ruled out a clear goal by Matthijs de Ligt for Bayern Munich against Real Madrid last season, which could have leveled the score in the dying minutes.
Marciniak has a mixed record with Barcelona, having officiated five matches for the Catalan club, resulting in one win, two draws, and two heavy defeats: a 3-0 loss to Juventus and a 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, both in 2017. He also officiated the 2022 Champions League group stage match between Barcelona and Inter Milan, which ended in a 3-3 draw and resulted in Barcelona’s elimination from the competition and relegation to the Europa League.
Additionally, a controversial photo of Marciniak taken before a Real Madrid Champions League match has further raised doubts about his impartiality in the eyes of Barcelona fans.
Despite all these concerns, Hansi Flick’s team must overcome all challenges and focus on qualifying from Milan, regardless of any external influences.
