Arsenal enters the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid as favorites, having won the first leg 3-0. UEFA has picked Francois Letexier as the match's referee.Letexier, a seasoned referee in European championships, has previously officiated four Real Madrid matches. This includes a 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the group stage last November, as well as a dramatic 3-3 tie with Manchester City in the quarterfinals last season.
This will be Letexier's first experience refereeing an Arsenal match, which might add a fresh aspect to an already high-stakes fixture. The 35-year-old has demonstrated his ability to referee high-pressure games, including the Euro 2024 final between England and Spain.
Arsenal’s impressive first-leg performance—featuring two goals from Declan Rice and one from Mikel Merino—puts them in an advantageous position to reach the semi-finals, where they would face either Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa. PSG currently leads their tie 3-1 after the first leg at home.
Despite their strong position, Mikel Arteta’s team remains cautious. Real Madrid are renowned for their resilience in crucial matches and will be determined to mount a comeback in front of their home fans at the Bernabéu.
Before Real’s La Liga game against Alaves, manager Carlo Ancelotti stressed the team’s fighting spirit: “We will give everything. Real Madrid is the only team that has done this repeatedly. We are aware of the power of our fans and the atmosphere at our stadium. We will keep fighting until the final moment, starting tomorrow.”