Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić appointed to oversee crucial Allianz Arena decider on Wednesday, as Real Madrid look to turn the tie around
UEFA has confirmed that Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić will take charge of the pivotal Champions League quarter-final second leg between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid this Wednesday.
The 46-year-old official, a veteran of the European circuit, arrives in Munich to manage a tie currently balanced on a knife-edge. Following a 2-1 victory for the Bavarians in the opening leg at the Bernabéu, the pressure on the officiating team will be considerable as two of the continent’s most successful clubs vie for a semi-final berth.
Vinčić is no stranger to the magnitude of the occasion, having famously refereed Real Madrid’s 15th European Cup triumph at Wembley in 2024. For this crucial return fixture, he will be supported by his long-term assistants Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič, while Dutch officials Dennis Higler and Pol van Boekel take responsibility for the VAR suite, with David Šmajc being the fourth official.
For the visiting Spanish giants, the selection of the Slovenian official evokes memories of recent glory, most notably that 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund to secure La Decimoquinta. This season, Vinčić oversaw Madrid’s 1-0 win against Juventus and a narrow 2-1 triumph over Benfica, but he was also the man in the middle for their 3-1 home defeat to AC Milan earlier in the 2024/25 campaign.
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Bayern Munich’s historical encounters with Vinčić suggest a balanced outlook for the home side as they look to protect their one-goal aggregate advantage.
The German champions have thrived under his supervision on a few occasions, including a clinical 3-0 win over Lazio in 2024 and a vital 2-0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen last year.
Conversely, the Bavarians have also suffered significant defeats with the Slovenian in charge, most notably a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona in 2024/25. His most recent outing involving Bayern was a 2-2 stalemate against Inter in April 2025.
Statistically, Vinčić is recognised for maintaining a high threshold for fouls, often allowing the game to flow, though he remains decisive when the temperature of a match rises.
While his recent Champions League average sits at approximately 1.75 yellow cards per game, he has shown a capacity for much higher volatility when the stakes are elevated. This was most evident during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where he issued nine bookings and a red card in a match between River Plate and Monterrey to suppress cynical play.