Unforgettable Penalty: English Referee Michael Oliver Takes Charge of Real Madrid vs Inter in Champions League
Real Madrid kick off their UEFA Champions League campaign with a home clash against Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday evening. The match will be officiated by English referee Michael Oliver, one of Europe’s most respected officials. This will be Oliver’s sixth time taking charge of a Real Madrid match in European competitions, and his track record with the Spanish giants leans heavily in their favor.
Oliver's Strong Record with Real Madrid
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Real Madrid have lost only once in the five previous matches that Oliver has refereed. His assignments involving Los Blancos include the 2022 UEFA Super Cup victory over Eintracht Frankfurt (2-0), a 2023-24 group stage win at Braga (2-1), and a 3-4 triumph against Olympiacos in last season’s competition. The sole defeat came against Bayern Munich in the 2025-26 quarter-finals (1-2).
The Night That Defined Oliver's Relationship with Madrid
However, it is the 2017-18 Champions League quarter-final second leg between Real Madrid and Juventus that remains the most memorable encounter involving Oliver and the Spanish club. In that match, with the tie slipping away and extra time looming after Juventus took a 3-0 lead, Oliver awarded Real Madrid a penalty in the 93rd minute. The decision came after a foul by Medhi Benatia on Lucas Vazquez, sparking a storm of controversy.
Cristiano Ronaldo converted the spot-kick, sending Real Madrid through to the semi-finals. The call infuriated Juventus, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon charging at the referee and receiving a red card. Buffon later launched a scathing verbal attack on Oliver in the mixed zone after the match.
The fallout was significant: UEFA sanctioned Buffon, and Oliver became the target of a harassment campaign that the governing body itself condemned. The ordeal even extended to threats against his family, marking a controversial and unforgettable chapter in the referee’s career.
