Daniel Siebert Takes Charge of Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid Second Leg

daniel siebert will referee the second leg between Arsenal and Atlético Madrid, putting a familiar official in charge of a match that will decide who reaches the Champions League final. Arsenal have won all three of their previous games with him in charge, while Atlético have never won with Siebert as the centre official.

Siebert’s Arsenal record

Arsenal’s previous results under Siebert give this appointment a clear edge for the visitors. The German referee has taken charge of the club three times before, and each time Arsenal finished on top. Last month, that run included a 1-0 win over Sporting at Estádio José Alvalade.

Siebert has been a Bundesliga official since 2012 and has been FIFA listed for 11 years. Those details fit the profile of a referee with major European experience, and they now come attached to one of the season’s most decisive fixtures.

Atlético Madrid and Siebert

Atlético’s history with Siebert runs the other way. This will be his fourth Atlético Madrid assignment, and the Spanish side have never won when he has been in the middle. All three of his previous Atlético games came against Premier League opposition, which adds another layer to a tie already shaped by the margin in Madrid.

That first leg was dominated by referee decisions. Danny Makkelie awarded both teams a penalty before overturning a third penalty call after VAR review, leaving the tie finely balanced heading into the return meeting.

October 2021 in Madrid

Siebert’s most notable previous Atlético assignment came in October 2021, when Antoine Griezmann was sent off as Liverpool won in Madrid. That match is the clearest reminder of how much control the referee can have over the tone of a knockout night.

For Arsenal and Atlético, the appointment now sits beside the result that matters most: one second leg, one place in the Champions League final, and a referee whose previous games have already leaned strongly toward one side and away from the other.