Duel Under Lights: PSG vs Bayern in Paris with a Questionable Referee Call

PSG vs Bayern in Paris: Referee Spotlight

PSG head coach Luis Enrique and his Paris Saint‑Germain players are hoping for a memorable night when they host Bayern Munich at Parc des Princes on Tuesday, the fourth matchday of the UEFA Champions League group stage. The atmosphere in Paris will be electric as the French champions look to tighten their grip on a tight group and extend their home run against a familiar German foe. The stakes are high, and the fans expect a display worthy of a knockout-stage battle.

UEFA has entrusted the match to Maurizio Mariani, an Italian referee described as having limited top-tier experience, who has officiated a relatively modest number of Champions League games to date. He will be under close watch not only for his on-field calls but for how he handles the aura of a marquee fixture between two European heavyweights, where every decision is scrutinized by millions.

Mariani will be supported by his fellow Italians, Stefano Alsio and Alberto Tegoni, with Matteo Marsinaro serving as fourth official. The video assistant referees will be Marco Di Bello and Alessandro Di Paolo. The appointment signals a rare moment when PSG’s opponents and their fans glance at the referee sheet before kick-off, hoping the official’s experience translates into a smooth game rather than a spectacle of cards and consultations.

This will mark Mariani’s second assignment involving PSG, after he oversaw last season’s away quarterfinal where PSG edged Aston Villa 3-1 in a match that remains a talking point for Parisian fans. For Bayern, it will be the first time he has refereed them in a match, while he has officiated only one Champions League match so far this season, a 3-2 Liverpool victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

Head-to-Head, Form, and Transfers

Historically, PSG and Bayern have a storied, seldom predictable rivalry. They have met 15 times in major competitions, with Bayern holding eight wins to PSG’s seven, and a combined 19 goals for Bayern against 17 for PSG. Last season the teams met twice: Bayern claimed a 1-0 win at the Allianz Arena, while PSG answered back with a 2-0 triumph at home in the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup, a tournament that still feels like a cosmic remix of the European Cup and a novelty cup for the globe-trotters.

PSG’s 2025-26 form has been a blend of efficiency and resilience. They have six league wins, one domestic setback against Marseille, a couple of draws, and victories over Nantes, Angers, and Lens, before a big 6-3 win at Toulouse and a 2-0 success over Brest. The team also drew with Lille and Strasbourg before a timely rebound, reclaiming top spot after beating Brest, then drawing at Lorient before grinding out a late win against Nice as they chase a fifth straight league title.

On the continental front, the Parisians have been flawless in four games, lifting the UEFA Super Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout with Tottenham following a 2-2 draw. In the Champions League, they opened with a 4-0 win over Atalanta at the Parc, then defeated Barcelona 2-1 at Montjuïc, and followed with a 7-2 thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. The transfer window saw PSG add three young players to reinforce defense and goalkeeping, alongside the departure of several veterans as part of a broader rebuild.

Notable signings include French keeper Lucas Shovaliyev from Lille, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s move to Manchester City, Ukrainian defender Illia Zabarnyi from Bournemouth, and young Italian Renato Marin from Roma. Together with the existing squad, PSG aim to strengthen the backline and bolster the options in goal as they press to defend the European crown while keeping pace in Ligue 1.

Punchlines you didn’t know you needed: If this match were a sniper shot, it would be precise—until the VAR asks for a rerun. And if a comedian were refereeing, every time a card is flashed you’d hear, “That’s not a yellow — that’s a highlight reel in blue and red.”