Vinčić to referee Benfica v Napoli after Azzurri’s lucky run | OneFootball

The wait for the sixth matchday of the Champions League league phase is heating up. UEFA has made its decision, officially announcing the refereeing team that will be in charge of managing the delicate clash between Benfica and Napoli, scheduled for Wednesday evening at 21:00 in the evocative setting of Lisbon’s Estádio da Luz.

Benfica-Napoli, referee chosen: Slavko Vinčić appointed, here is the full officiating team

The choice for the big match on Portuguese soil has fallen on a profile with great international experience: the Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić. Born in Maribor, Vinčić has held the rank of FIFA international referee since 2010, a résumé that has seen him feature on prestigious stages, from the decisive phases of the Champions and Europa League to World Cup and European Championship qualifiers, as well as the Nations League.

Looking through the records, there is a statistic that might bring a smile to Napoli fans, even if the sample is limited. Vinčić has crossed paths with Napoli only once before, interestingly also against a Portuguese side and in a decisive context. The previous encounter dates back to December 2023, during the group stage, when he officiated Napoli-Braga at the Maradona Stadium. That night ended with a clear 2-0 victory for the Azzurri (thanks to an own goal by Saatci and a finish from Victor Osimhen), a result that sealed qualification for the Italian club. Conte and his men hope that the Slovenian’s presence can once again bring good luck against Lisbon’s “Eagles.”

For the trip to Portugal, Vinčić will be assisted by an almost entirely Slovenian refereeing team, with a German exception and an Englishman handling the technology. The assistant referees will be fellow Slovenians Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic. The role of fourth official has been assigned to the German Christian Dingert. Special attention goes to the VAR room, where the experienced Englishman Stuart Attwell will be in charge, supported by Slovenian AVAR David Smajc.

Andrea Alati

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.