Sporting in Bilbao and Benfica vs Real Madrid to Face Vigilant Referees

Sporting Clube de Portugal and SL Benfica will step onto the European stage in late January under the gaze of two of UEFA’s most talked-about referees. The governing body has handed the whistle for Athletic Bilbao–Sporting to Felix Zwayer, while Davide Massa will oversee Benfica’s home clash with Real Madrid—an appointment that instantly rekindles memories of past run-ins with José Mourinho.

Quick view: why supporters should care

• 28 January: both matches kick off within hours of each other

• All-German crew for Sporting; all-Italian crew for Benfica

• Zwayer averages 20+ fouls and 3–6 yellow cards a game

• Massa has already sent Mourinho off once and VAR Marco Di Bello twice

• UEFA’s selection again leaves no Portuguese referee in charge of a Portuguese club fixture

The men with the whistle

European football followers will recognise Felix Zwayer, 44, from Berlin. A FIFA referee since 2012 and part of UEFA’s Elite Group, he took charge of the 2023 Nations League final and is known for a hands-on, talkative style. In Bilbao he will be assisted by Stefan Lupp, Marco Achmüller and Bastian Dankert in the VAR truck—all German, a common practice designed to minimise language issues.

Across the Iberian border at Estádio da Luz, Davide Massa, 45, from Imperia, brings a contrasting profile. Massa’s team—assistants Stefano Alassio and Alberto Tegoni plus VAR Marco Di Bello—have handled high-temperature Serie A derbies and multiple Champions League knock-out rounds. The Italian’s reputation? Firm with dissent, lenient on physical contact, occasionally quick to show red.

Zwayer and Sporting: thin history, thick files

Sporting fans have only crossed paths with Zwayer once, a 3-1 victory over Olympiacos in 2017 that helped the Lions advance from their Champions League group. What the Alvalade faithful may not have in mind is the referee’s broader story:

• involvement in a 2005 match-fixing scandal, earning a six-month suspension• a well-publicised mental-health break after criticism by Jude Bellingham in 2021• averages of 1.25 penalties per Champions League match, among the highest in the competition• Bundesliga data showing 5.8 yellow cards per game, suggesting an emphasis on controlling tempo

For Rúben Amorim, the homework is simple: prepare players for a referee who stops play often, points to the spot above average, yet can let tough tackles go if they occur outside the box.

Massa, Mourinho and Benfica: the subplot writes itself

While Sporting’s duel with Zwayer feels almost fresh, Benfica’s evening with Massa comes wrapped in narrative. José Mourinho still bristles at the memory of being sent off by the Italian in 2021 during Roma-Napoli, and Di Bello compounded the feud by expelling him twice more from the touchline.

Statistics add another layer: Benfica own a 50 % win record in Massa-officiated fixtures—solid but not sparkling. Analyst Pedro Henriques has publicly recalled a non-given penalty against Leverkusen in which Massa was fourth official and Di Bello AVAR, arguing that “key moments rarely fall the Eagles’ way under this crew”.

How UEFA picked this duo—and where Portuguese referees stand

Appointments are finalised by the UEFA Referees Committee, typically 10–12 days before kick-off. All candidates must be on the FIFA international list and are graded annually by form, fitness and observer reports from previous fixtures.

That system has propelled João Pinheiro into the Elite category—he will oversee Inter v. Arsenal in the same match-week—yet it has left Portugal without a referee in charge of its own clubs this round. The choice reiterates an old reality: UEFA prefers to keep officials and teams from the same federation apart whenever possible to avoid accusations of bias.

What to watch for on 28 January

• For Sporting, expect Zwayer to whistle frequently in midfield, meaning positional discipline will be vital to prevent set-piece dangers.• For Benfica, Massa is unlikely to hesitate if tempers flare; early yellow cards could shape the encounter, especially if Nicolás Otamendi tests the limits.• VAR influence looms large: Dankert’s Bundesliga record shows a penchant for intervening on handballs, while Di Bello has repeatedly advised Massa on tight off-side calls.

The bigger picture for Portuguese football

The twin appointments underline two truths. First, Europe’s elite officials are increasingly drawn from a small, heavily scrutinised pool—Zwayer and Massa have each managed more than 100 top-level internationals. Second, Portuguese referees, though rising—see Artur Soares Dias handling the 2024 Conference League final—still face fierce competition for Champions League centre-stage.

If Sporting and Benfica navigate Bilbao and Madrid successfully, the conversation this time next season might be about a Portuguese whistle in the quarter-finals. Until then, supporters will judge whether Zwayer’s rigor or Massa’s authority proves decisive—and whether history repeats itself or finally turns a kinder page for Portugal’s biggest clubs.