Gil Manzano becomes first Spanish referee in new Champions League league phase

Jesús Gil Manzano will make history as the first Spanish referee to officiate a match in the new Champions League league phase. The official from Extremadura has been appointed for the Fenerbahçe-Roma clash this Thursday at 18:45 in Istanbul, as the first round of fixtures in Europe's premier club competition comes to a close.

• Gil Manzano makes his league phase debut with Fenerbahçe vs Roma in Istanbul.
• He and Juan Martínez Munuera are the only Spanish field referees appointed across the first 18 European matches.
• Guadalupe Porras Ayuso and Diego Barbero will run the lines, with César Soto Grado on VAR.
• Elite category referees Alejandro Hernández Hernández and José María Sánchez Martínez are still waiting for their debut.
• The six remaining Spanish referees could get their first appointments in the Europa League next week.

Gil Manzano takes charge of Fenerbahçe vs Roma in Istanbul

The Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium hosts a heavyweight contest between Fenerbahçe and Roma, two clubs with deep European pedigree. The Turkish side, now led by José Mourinho, return to a continental meeting with a Serie A opponent they have faced in tense knockout ties over the years. Roma, meanwhile, are looking to start the league phase with points before tougher assignments arrive in the coming rounds.

Gil Manzano steps into this appointment with proven experience in European football. The referee from the Don Benito delegation holds a FIFA badge and has already officiated in Europa League knockout matches and international fixtures. His selection for the opening round of the league phase confirms UEFA's trust in Spanish refereeing for top-level matches.

An all-Spanish refereeing team in Istanbul

The Spanish presence in Istanbul goes well beyond the main official. Juan Martínez Munuera will serve as fourth official, a role that places him among the only two FIFA-badged field referees appointed across the first 18 matches of the league phase. Alongside them, Guadalupe Porras Ayuso and Diego Barbero will assist from the touchlines.

César Soto Grado will be in the video review room as VAR, with Valentín Pizarro assisting from the VOR room. UEFA continues to show clear faith in Spanish match officials during an opening matchday that marks the debut of the new Champions League format.

The new Champions League format and the role of referees

The Champions League league phase has replaced the traditional group stage. Each team plays eight matches against different opponents, four at home and four away, within a single 36-club standings. The top eight advance directly to the round of 16, while those placed ninth to 24th go into a playoff round.

This new system requires UEFA to appoint referees for far more matches than in previous editions. The presence of a complete Spanish refereeing team for Fenerbahçe vs Roma on the opening matchday reflects the weight European football's governing body gives to Spanish officials at the start of the season.

Which other Spanish referees are waiting for their debut

Spain's pool of FIFA-badged referees is deep, but not all of them make their debut on this opening matchday. Alejandro Hernández Hernández and José María Sánchez Martínez, both in UEFA's elite category, are still waiting for their first league phase appointment. Sánchez Martínez also brings experience from Champions League knockout ties and the UEFA Super Cup.

The Europa League league phase kicks off next week, offering a clear opportunity for the six Spanish referees who have not yet debuted in European competition this season to receive their first appointments. UEFA typically distributes assignments between elite and second-tier officials depending on the profile of each fixture.

Fenerbahçe and Roma, two European regulars face to face

The meeting between the Turkish and Italian clubs brings back memories of recent Europa League and former UEFA Cup ties. Both sides have squads built to compete in Europe's elite competition and fanbases that turn every continental fixture into a high-intensity occasion. The Istanbul clash will also serve as an early measure of both clubs' ambitions in this league phase.

For Gil Manzano, taking charge of a match of this stature on the first day of the league phase carries extra responsibility. The Extremadura-born official, who has already refereed Copa del Rey finals in Spain, faces the challenge of opening Spain's refereeing account in the new Champions League format.