Referee Gözübüyük’s Calls Haunt Benfica in 2–0 Champions League Defeat in Turin

Portuguese supporters who woke up still dissecting last night’s 2-0 loss in Turin may want to look beyond the scoreline. The man with the whistle, Dutch referee Serdar Gözübüyük, once regarded as a lucky charm for Benfica, again became the focus after a handful of contentious calls.

Quick-fire takeaways

• Gözübüyük’s third Benfica assignment ended in defeat after a missed penalty by Vangelis Pavlidis.

• The 40-year-old averages 27 fouls and nearly 5 yellows per Champions League match, a figure that usually keeps benches on edge.

• No public outbursts from either dug-out yet, but social media in Portugal is buzzing over a potential hand-ball that went unpunished for Juventus.

Why the referee choice resonated in Lisbon

UEFA’s decision raised eyebrows the moment it appeared on Monday’s appointments sheet. Many Benfiquistas still associate Gözübüyük with the 4-0 thrashing of Atlético Madrid in 2024, a match that practically sealed the Eagles’ passage to the knock-outs. Older memories include the 3-3 thriller at Anfield in 2021, where his laissez-faire style allowed the contest to flow. Heading into Turin, optimism was therefore high that the Dutchman’s presence might once again suit Benfica’s attacking instincts.

A whistle forged in Eredivisie fire

Born in Haarlem to Turkish parents, Gözübüyük has spent 15 seasons refereeing at the highest level of Dutch football. The KNVB pushed him onto the FIFA list at 25, making him one of Europe’s youngest elite officials. Domestically he is known for letting play continue, yet he is unafraid to brandish cards when the temperature rises. That balance has attracted praise but also criticism: José Mourinho famously blasted him in 2022 for “two crystal-clear penalties” Roma never received against Bodø/Glimt.

Gözübüyük in numbers

Benfica staff ran the data and saw a referee who typically produces 4.67 yellows, 0.33 penalties and zero reds per Champions League outing. His foul count hovers around 27.3 per match, slightly above the tournament mean. Those metrics suggested a contest where physical duels would be tolerated only up to a point—exactly what unfolded when Neres and Danilo traded heavy tackles inside the opening quarter-hour.

The flashpoints that lit up the Juve-Benfica night

Juventus supporters howled when Gözübüyük pointed to the spot for an alleged Rabiot push on Rafa Silva, only for VAR to beckon him toward the monitor. After a four-minute check he stood by his decision, yet Pavlidis drove the kick well wide. Minutes later, Benfica wanted a second penalty after Bremer’s arm brushed the ball. The Dutchman, apparently acting on advice from Belgian VAR Bram Van Driessche, waved play on—a call Portuguese pundits are replaying frame by frame today.

Coaches tread carefully on the microphone

Neither Roger Schmidt nor Massimiliano Allegri mentioned the referee by name in their post-match briefings. Schmidt focused on his side’s profligacy in front of goal, while Allegri praised Juve’s “clinical edge.” Behind the scenes, however, Benfica insiders privately conceded that Gözübüyük’s flexible line on contact made it harder to break down a physically robust Italian back line.

What it means for Benfica’s campaign

The defeat leaves the Lisbon giants four points adrift of a top-eight spot in the new league-style group phase. They will now need results against Paris Saint-Germain at home and Celtic in Glasgow to keep knockout hopes alive. UEFA’s next set of referee appointments is due on Monday; expect every Benfica forum to parse the list the moment it drops.

Looking ahead

For Portuguese sides, mastering European nights is no longer only about tactics and finishing—reading the referee has become strategic homework. Whether Gözübüyük’s latest performance tips UEFA’s assessor scale up or down, his name will remain etched in Benfica folklore: sometimes a bringer of fortune, other times the man in the middle when things fell apart.

If the Eagles are to extend their continental winter, they will have to learn a quick lesson from Turin—because, card-happy or not, the next whistle-blower is already warming up.