Danny Makkelie, the referee who has directed Atlético in several historic Champions League matches
Atlético de Madrid will face Sparta Prague in the Champions League with a familiar referee: Danny Makkelie. The Dutchman has been in some of the most important matches of the red and white team in recent seasons, such as the 2-3 victory in Anfield in the 2019-20 campaign.
Makkelie, 41 years old and international since 2011, has refereed Atlético five times in the maximum European competition and in none of them the team managed to win in regulation time. In Anfield, Atlético eliminated the English team in extra time.
He also refereed Atlético in the match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the 2017-18 campaign, in a group stage match that ended 1-1. Already in the 2019-20 season he was in an Atlético-Juventus (2-2) played at the Metropolitano.
It was the first match of the group stage. That same campaign he later directed in the magical night of Anfield. He also whistled another Liverpool-Atlético, in Anfield, in the 2021-22 season, this time with a 2-0 defeat for the Spanish team (3-11-2021).
In that match he was heavily protested by the players of the red and white team, as he sent off Felipe in the 36th minute. A play that determined the match. Atlético was already losing 2-0 and the expulsion finished sinking the team of Simeone. And his last match directing the Madrid team was against Brugge at the Metropolitano in the 2022-23 season (12-10-2022). That year Atlético was eliminated from the group stage of the Champions.
