Following their narrow 2-1 defeat in the Czech Republic last week, Olympique Lyonnais faces a must-win scenario under Paulo Fonseca. The French side must secure victory by a two-goal margin to avoid extra time, or risk an early exit from the competition. UEFA has opted for experience by assigning Marciniak, a seasoned official with a stellar track record in major tournaments, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.

Mixed memories for Olympique Lyonnais

Marciniak’s appointment will evoke contrasting emotions in Lyon. This marks his fifth officiating appearance for Olympique Lyonnais, including their painful 5-1 loss at Camp Nou in 2019. He also refereed the 3-1 victory over Ajax Amsterdam in the Europa League in 2017, though it proved insufficient for qualification. His other encounters with Lyon ended in narrow defeats to Juventus (0-1, 2016) and Viktoria Plzeň (2-1, 2014).