FC Barcelona returns to action this Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26, visiting Slavia Prague (9:00 PM) for the seventh matchday of the league phase. The game, to be played at the Eden Arena in the capital of the Czech Republic, will have Englishman Chris Kavanagh as the main referee, making his debut in a Barça match in Europe.

The 40-year-old referee, an international since 2019, has never officiated matches of Spanish clubs in European competitions, with the exception of a Real Madrid match in the Youth League. He has, on the other hand, officiated the Czech team on three occasions, with a record of one win and two losses.

Kavanagh was in charge of refereeing Slavia's visit to Inter Milan (3-0) on matchday 2. That day, the Czechs only received one yellow card, while the Italian team ended with two players cautioned. The English referee also officiated the draw between Kairat and Pafos (0-0) and Eintracht's defeat in Germany against Atalanta (0-3).

Third English referee for Barça in the 2025/26 Champions League

So far, the Premier League referee has shown 7 yellow cards and 1 red in his three appearances in the 25/26 Champions League group stage. This season he has also officiated 3 Europa League matches, 17 Premier League games, a couple of League Cup ties, and two others corresponding to the Community Shield and the FA Cup.

For Barça, Chris Kavanagh will be the third English referee to officiate in the league stage. Michael Oliver was in charge of justice in the match against PSG (1-2), while Anthony Taylor was the main referee for the visit to Bruges (3-3). So far, the balance has been negative with British referees (one defeat and one draw) and 7 yellow cards received.

Two of them were taken by Lamine Yamal, who will be out against Slavia Prague due to suspension after accumulating 3 yellow cards (the other was against Olympiacos). Frenkie de Jong, Marc Casadó, and Fermín López are also one card away from missing the last match of the group stage, against Copenhagen at Camp Nou

Barça, forced to win on their visit to Prague

Ahead of Champions matchday 7, the Blaugrana team arrives in Prague with the obligation to defeat one of the weakest teams in the tournament to get closer to the TOP-8 that grants direct access to the round of 16. Slavia is coming off a loss in the previous matchday against Tottenham (3-0) and has only accumulated 3 points from 3 draws and a couple of goals scored, with 11 conceded.

Barça, on the other hand, **has 10 points** and defeated Eintracht (2-1) last matchday. Goal difference is key to climbing positions in the table, and the Catalans will go for a rout in Czechia. For now, the Blaugrana difference is +3, with 14 goals scored and 11 conceded