Sven Jablonski to referee Barcelona’s Champions League opener against Feyenoord

UEFA has appointed German referee Sven Jablonski to take charge of Barcelona’s opening Champions League match against Feyenoord at Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday, giving the 36-year-old his first European assignment involving the Catalan club.

The match is scheduled to begin at 18:45 Central European Time, as Barcelona return to the Champions League in front of their home supporters.

Jablonski’s appointment represents a significant first in his career. He has never previously officiated a Barcelona match in European competition and has also never refereed a game at the club’s home stadium.

The fixture will also be Jablonski’s first European match of the season, marking an important stage in the German official’s development on the continental scene. His compatriot Bastian Dankert will support him as the video assistant referee (VAR).

Although Jablonski has limited experience with Spanish clubs, he has already had some involvement with football in Spain. His only previous match involving a Spanish club came last season, when Villarreal were beaten 1-0 by Pafos.

He has also refereed a match involving Spain Under-19s, as well as a game featuring Real Madrid in the youth Champions League.

Wednesday’s contest will be Jablonski’s first European appointment involving Feyenoord. However, he is not unfamiliar with Dutch clubs, having previously officiated matches involving AZ Alkmaar and Ajax Amsterdam.

That experience of Dutch football will be relevant when Feyenoord visit Spotify Camp Nou for a match overseen by Barcelona manager Hansi Flick.

The appointment was also highlighted in a social media post describing Jablonski as the “new referee on Barcelona’s Champions League path”, confirming that the German will oversee the meeting with Feyenoord and referee the Catalan club in Europe for the first time.

For Barcelona, the game carries the added significance of their return to the Champions League and the occasion of welcoming European football back to Spotify Camp Nou. For Jablonski, it will combine his first assignment in the competition this season with a new experience at one of Europe’s best-known stadiums.

His previous work with AZ Alkmaar and Ajax means he has already encountered teams from the Netherlands, but his meeting with Feyenoord will be the first time he has officiated one of the club’s European matches. Likewise, his earlier involvement with Villarreal, Spain Under-19s and Real Madrid’s youth side provides only a limited Spanish background before his first Barcelona appointment.

The match therefore gives Jablonski the opportunity to add both Barcelona and Feyenoord to his European refereeing experience, while Dankert takes responsibility for the VAR operation on a notable Champions League night.