As Real Madrid prepares to host Arsenal in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, UEFA has appointed an experienced officiating team to oversee the high-stakes encounter at the Santiago Bernabéu.​

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Referee: François Letexier (France)

French official François Letexier will take charge of the match, marking his fifth time officiating a Champions League game involving Real Madrid. His previous assignments with Los Blancos include:​

• A 2–0 defeat to Liverpool (2024/25 group stage)
• A 3–3 draw with Manchester City (2023/24 quarterfinal first leg)
• A 4–2 victory over Napoli (2023/24 group stage)
• A 2–0 win against Chelsea (2022/23 quarterfinal first leg)​

This will be Letexier's first time officiating a match involving Arsenal.​

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Assistant Referees

• Cyril Mugnier (France)
• Mehdi Rahmouni (France)​

Both assistants are regular collaborators with Letexier in domestic and international fixtures.​

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Fourth Official

• Stéphanie Frappart (France)​

Frappart, a trailblazer in officiating, will manage the technical areas and assist with administrative duties during the match.​

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Video Assistant Referee (VAR)

• Jérôme Brisard (France)​

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Assistant VAR (AVAR)

• Bastien Dechepy (France)​

The all-French VAR team will oversee video reviews to ensure accurate decision-making throughout the game.​

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First Leg Recap

In the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal secured a commanding 3–0 victory over Real Madrid. Declan Rice scored two remarkable free-kick goals, and Mikel Merino added a third, putting the Gunners in a strong position to advance to the semifinals.​

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Match Details

• Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
• Time: 21:00 CET
• Venue: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid​

With a place in the Champions League semifinals at stake, both teams will be aiming for a decisive performance under the supervision of a seasoned officiating crew.​