Match Officials Confirmed for Crucial Champions League Encounter
UEFA has officially announced the appointment of Norwegian referee Espen Eskås to oversee the UEFA Champions League Matchday 7 fixture between Real Madrid and AS Monaco. The highly anticipated match is set to take place on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, with a scheduled kick-off time of 21:00 CET.
Eskås will lead an all-Norwegian officiating team for the match. His assistants will be Jan Erik Engan and Isaak Elias Skjeseth Bashevkin. The role of Fourth Official will be filled by Sigurd Smehus Kringstad. Providing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) support will be Pol van Boekel from the Netherlands, assisted by Belgium's Bram Van Driessche.
Eskås's History with Real Madrid and Notable Career Milestones
This upcoming match will be the third occasion that Espen Eskås has refereed a Champions League game involving Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have maintained a perfect record under his officiating in the competition. His previous assignments for Real Madrid include a 1-0 victory against Union Berlin during the 2023/24 Group Stage and a 3-0 win over Brest in the 2024/25 Group Stage.
Born on June 24, 1988, in Oslo, Norway, Eskås began his refereeing career in 2005 and achieved international referee status with FIFA in 2017. He is recognized as a UEFA elite referee. His career highlights include officiating the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup final between France and Germany, and he also took charge of three matches at the 2024 Paris Olympics football tournament, including the bronze medal match.
Teams' Current Standing in the Competition
As the Champions League league phase progresses, Real Madrid currently holds the seventh position with 12 points. AS Monaco is positioned nineteenth with 9 points. The match at the Bernabéu is expected to be a significant fixture for both teams as they aim to solidify their positions in the tournament.
5 Comments
BuggaBoom
Finally, a competent official for a crucial match.
Noir Black
It's understandable to select a referee with Eskås's pedigree for a Champions League match. However, Monaco supporters could justifiably feel uneasy given his history of Real Madrid wins.
Mariposa
Another match fixed for the big clubs, typical UEFA.
Africa
Monaco should be worried. This referee clearly favors Madrid.
Bermudez
Excellent choice! Eskås is a top-tier referee.