The official for Tuesday’s 9 p.m. clash at the Parc des Princes is set: Michael Oliver will blow the whistle. Who will seize the advantage?
Oliver, a familiar face in European fixtures, will oversee PSG’s home game against Barcelona on Tuesday night. UEFA confirmed the Englishman’s appointment on Sunday.
Back on 1 October 2025, Oliver already presided over a Barcelona‑PSG tie, a 2‑1 win for Luis Enrique’s side in Catalonia. New‑arrival Ferran Torres opened the scoring for Barça before goals from Senny Mayulu and Gonçalo Ramos.
Oliver’s record bodes well for Paris, but can his past influence this encounter?
Oliver has overseen Barcelona five times and PSG six times. Under his watch, the French club boasts four wins, one draw and one loss, while Barça have managed a single victory, two draws and two defeats. In my view, the stats tilt in PSG’s favor.
Oliver refereed Real Madrid’s 2 September win over Inter Milan. Thursday saw him on the pitch for Olympique Marseille’s 0‑1 Europa League loss to Olympiakos. At the last World Cup he handled four matches, including Norway‑France in the group stage.
Fresh off a 2‑5 league triumph over Betis, Barcelona ride an eleven‑match winning streak across all competitions. PSG, meanwhile, sit on six straight victories, the latest a 3‑1 away win at Strasbourg, and they previously routed Manchester City 4‑2.