Villarreal CF will have Italian referee Simone Sozza officiate their historic Champions League debut against Borussia Dortmund. The 39-year-old official was appointed for the match. Iñigo Pérez's team faces this milestone game during a challenging period, sitting 16th in La Liga with just two points from their first four matches.
Who is referee Simone Sozza?
Simone Sozza is an Italian referee who has been officiating in his country's top competition since 2020. This Champions League match will be his third European appointment of the current season, having already refereed two Europa League qualification games. Sozza comes into the match fresh from overseeing Inter Milan's 3-2 win over Napoli last Saturday. That match featured Inter, who are Real Madrid's first group-stage opponent in this season's Champions League.
What is Sozza's experience with Spanish teams?
This will be the first time Simone Sozza referees Villarreal CF in a European competition. However, the Italian official does have prior experience with a Spanish club. Last season, he took charge of Real Betis's Europa League group stage loss to PAOK Thessaloniki. Sozza also has experience with the Spanish national team, having refereed their 6-0 victory over Cyprus in the Euro 2024 qualifiers on September 12, 2023, at the Estadio de los Cármenes. Additionally, he officiated the Spain U21 team's 1-3 quarter-final loss to England in the last U21 European Championship in the summer of 2025.
What is Villarreal's form heading into this key match?
Villarreal CF approaches its Champions League debut needing to improve its domestic form. The Yellow Submarine has only two points in La Liga, with a record of zero wins, two draws, and two losses. Their recent form is LLDD, and they trail league leaders Barcelona by seven points. In attack and defense, the team has scored six goals and conceded eight, resulting in a -2 goal difference. Fans can check the team's full statistical breakdown on our stats page.
Villarreal's next league fixture is at home against third-placed Real Betis on September 14. First, all focus is on Dortmund. The coaching staff must also manage the confirmed absence of Juan Foyth, detailed on our injuries page. The referee appointment adds another layer to a match already historic for the club. Another Italian, Marco Di Bello, will serve as the VAR official. Villarreal seeks European momentum to offset their league struggles, and their debut will be overseen by a referee familiar with Spanish football.
