Björn Kuipers has been appointed by UEFA as referee for the return match between Juventus and FC Porto in the eighth final of the Champions League, the KNVB announced on Sunday. That match will be played on Tuesday at 9 p.m. in the Allianz Stadium in Turin.
On Tuesday, February 16, Kuipers was last in charge of a game in the Champions League, when he had to lead Barcelona – Paris Saint-Germain (1-4) in the right direction. In Turin, just like in Barcelona, he is assisted by his permanent assistants Sander van Roekel and Erwin Zeinstra. This time, however, Bas Nijhuis is the fourth man instead of Serdar Gözübüyük. Again Pol van Boekel and Dennis Higler are VAR and AVAR respectively.
In the first leg of Wednesday, February 17, Porto was 2-1 too strong. Mehdi Taremi and Moussa Marega ensured a 2-0 lead, after which Federico Chiesa scored the important away goal for Juventus. Matthijs de Ligt then played ninety minutes, but was missing on Saturday due to a calf injury against Lazio (3-1 win). After that game, trainer Andrea Pirlo said he hoped that the defender will be available ‘in the coming days’, but for the time being De Ligt is doubtful for the duel with Porto.
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