At a glance
- FC Barcelona face Atletico Madrid in a Champions League quarterfinal second leg on Tuesday.
- The Blaugrana will up against it already, and perhaps even more so with Clément Turpin the referee.
- The Frenchman is linked to a dark moment in Barca history, from 2018.
UEFA has appointed a French referee to officiate the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal against Atlético Madrid. An elite referee, but one who brings back ghosts from the past for FC Barcelona fans.
FC Barcelona already know who will be in charge of officiating Tuesday’s “final” at the Metropolitano. UEFA have appointed Clément Turpin to referee the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal clash between Atleti and Hansi Flick’s side.
It’s a choice that hasn’t gone unnoticed. After all, Turpin’s name is linked to one of the most painful chapters in the club’s recent history.
The shadow of Rome still lingers over Barcelona
For any Barça supporter, the name Clément Turpin is inevitably tied to the night of April 10, 2018. On that day, the Frenchman officiated the fateful Roma 3–0 Barça UCL knockout match.
The Italians eliminated the Catalan side which through away a 4-1quarterfinal first-leg advantage. Although he was not the main culprit of that footballing collapse, his presence on the pitch at the Stadio Olimpico made him part of the image of one of the club’s toughest eliminations in Europe.
Barcelona’s bittersweet record with Turpin
Beyond the ghosts of Rome, Barça’s overall record with Turpin is mixed. The French referee has officiated the team on five occasions, with the following results:
- 2 wins (against Borussia Dortmund and Dynamo Kyiv in the group stage)
- 2 draws (the most recent being the 3–3 against Inter last season in the semifinals in Montjuic)
- 1 loss (the aforementioned defeat in Rome
A concerning stat for Flick’s side is the effectiveness of those results under the Frenchman. Of the five scores with Turpin, only one (the 3–1 against Dortmund) allows Barça to overturn a tie or qualify directly. The draw against Inter would send the tie into extra time if repeated.
Barca need two goals just to level with Atleti in the Metroplitano, and currently trail 2-0 after the Spotify Camp Nou loss last Wednesday.
A “firm-handed” referee trusted by UEFA to watch over Barcelona
At 41 years old, Turpin is considered one of the best referees in the world. He is a regular in major fixtures and has already officiated Champions League (2022) and Europa League (2021) finals. He is known for allowing physical play but not hesitating to assert his authority.
He won’t be alone at the Metropolitano. He’ll be assisted by his compatriots Nicolas Danos and Benjamin Pages on the sidelines, with Jérôme Brisard in charge of VAR.
The Metropolitano challenge for Barcelona
Barça travel to Madrid needing to make a statement after the first-leg result. With Simeone’s Atlético experts at pushing matches to the physical limit, Turpin’s role will be key in ensuring the game flows. Barcelona fans hope that, this time, the French whistle will not be synonymous with another dark European night. Instead, it should witness a historic passage to the semifinals.
