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The Atlético Madrid vs Bayern Munich referee appointment is in, and it has already got people talking. UEFA has handed Matchday 4 of the Champions League league phase at the Metropolitano to French official François Letexier. That name makes uncomfortable reading in Munich and a welcome one in Madrid. Bayern have never avoided defeat with Letexier in charge, while Atlético have never dropped a point. Officials don’t decide results, but this history adds an interesting subplot to one of the biggest fixtures of the league phase.
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Who Is Refereeing Atlético Madrid vs Bayern Munich?
Letexier brings an all-French on-field team to Madrid, with Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni running the lines and Rudy Buquet as fourth official. Jérôme Brisard leads the VAR team, assisted by Poland’s Piotr Lasyk.
| Role | Official |
|---|---|
| Referee | François Letexier (France) |
| Assistant referees | Cyril Mugnier, Mehdi Rahmouni (France) |
| Fourth official | Rudy Buquet (France) |
| VAR | Jérôme Brisard (France) |
| Assistant VAR | Piotr Lasyk (Poland) |
| Venue | Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid |
| Date | Tuesday, 3 November 2026 |
Bayern Munich’s Record Under François Letexier: Three Games, Three Defeats
The numbers are stark. Bayern have played three times under Letexier and lost every one, scoring no goals in any of them.
| Date | Match | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Feb 2024 | Lazio vs Bayern Munich | Champions League R16, 1st leg | 1–0 Lazio |
| 22 Jan 2025 | Feyenoord vs Bayern Munich | Champions League league phase | 3–0 Feyenoord |
| 24 Jun 2025 | Benfica vs Bayern Munich | FIFA Club World Cup | 1–0 Benfica |
Rome 2024: The Upamecano Red Card
The first meeting set the tone. Letexier refereed the round-of-16 first leg in Rome, and Lazio won it. The key moment was a dismissal: Letexier showed only one red card in nine Champions League and Europa League games from the group stage onward that season, and it went to Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano.
Rotterdam 2025: A Penalty and a Bench Red Card
At De Kuip, Bayern dominated the ball and lost anyway. Santiago Giménez scored twice for Feyenoord, the second from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time, before Ayase Ueda added a late third. Bayern’s frustration then spilled over. Backup goalkeeper Sven Ulreich was sent off shortly before full time after protesting to the officials following Feyenoord’s third goal. The red card in that game came from the bench, not from an on-pitch foul.
Charlotte 2025: A Clean Game, Same Result
The Club World Cup defeat was the least eventful of the three from a refereeing point of view. Andreas Schjelderup scored the only goal early on, and all three bookings went to Benfica players. Bayern had none. So Letexier hasn’t always been tough on Bayern. They simply haven’t found a way to win under him.
Atlético Madrid’s Perfect Record With Letexier in Charge
For Diego Simeone’s side, the appointment looks more like a lucky charm. Both of Atlético’s previous games with Letexier were home wins at the Metropolitano: 2–1 against Inter Milan and 3–2 against Feyenoord in 2023/24.
| Date | Match | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Oct 2023 | Atlético Madrid vs Feyenoord | Champions League group stage | 3–2 Atlético |
| 26 Nov 2025 | Atlético Madrid vs Inter Milan | Champions League league phase | 2–1 Atlético |
Both games were also low on cards. Letexier showed just one yellow in the Feyenoord match, and the Inter game also produced a single caution. That’s well below his usual average.
François Letexier Referee Stats: How Card-Heavy Is He?
The exact figures vary depending on the stats database, but they point the same way: Letexier shows a steady number of yellow cards.
- Career yellow cards: roughly 3.6 to 4.1 per match, depending on the database and sample size.
- Champions League yellow cards: roughly 3.5 to 4.5 per match, depending on how many fixtures each source counts.
- Red cards: comparatively rare. His 2023/24 European record shows one dismissal in nine games.
- Atlético games: just one yellow card per game across his two Metropolitano appointments.
The pattern is clear even if the precise numbers differ. Letexier lets physical games flow but books players reliably once a line is crossed. Expect a few yellows on a normal night, with red cards the exception.
Champions League 2026–27 Form: The Roma vs Real Madrid Thriller
Letexier’s most recent Champions League game was a classic. Real Madrid came from 3–1 down to beat Roma 4–3 on 14 October, scoring three goals in the final seven minutes. Officiating a seven-goal game with a late comeback is a real test, and referee observers rated his performance in Rome as excellent and typical of his standards.
Why UEFA Trusts Letexier With the Biggest Nights
Atlético vs Bayern is a heavyweight fixture, and UEFA has picked one of its most trusted officials for it. Letexier is a UEFA elite-category referee and became the youngest referee to take charge of a European Championship final when he refereed the Euro 2024 final at 35. Last season he added another major final: UEFA chose him for the 2026 Europa League final between SC Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul. His regular assistants, Mugnier and Rahmouni, are with him again in Madrid.
Atlético vs Bayern Betting Angle: What Letexier Means for Cards Markets
Three games for Bayern and two for Atlético make a small sample, so the referee history should shape your view of the game, not decide it. That said, a few points stand out for bettors:
- Bayern’s record under him is 0 wins from 3, with no goals scored and plenty of frustration along the way.
- Atlético’s record under him is 2 wins from 2, both at the Metropolitano and both with very few bookings.
- His overall card averages sit in the 3.5 to 4.5 yellows-per-game range in European competition. A tense, physical game between these two could reach that easily.
- Red cards are a long shot. His dismissals are infrequent, and one of his two in Bayern games came from the bench.
If you’re weighing the cards lines or the match result, Tips.gg has odds comparisons and expert predictions for Atlético Madrid vs Bayern Munich.
FAQ: Atlético Madrid vs Bayern Munich Referee
Who is the referee for Atlético Madrid vs Bayern Munich?
François Letexier of France takes charge of the Champions League league-phase fixture at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Tuesday, 3 November 2026.
Who is the VAR for Atlético vs Bayern?
Jérôme Brisard of France is the video assistant referee, with Piotr Lasyk of Poland as assistant VAR.
What is Bayern Munich’s record with François Letexier?
Bayern have lost all three games he has refereed: 1–0 at Lazio, 3–0 at Feyenoord and 1–0 against Benfica at the Club World Cup.
Has Letexier refereed Atlético Madrid before?
Yes, twice. Both were home wins: 3–2 against Feyenoord in October 2023 and 2–1 against Inter Milan in November 2025.
How many yellow cards does François Letexier average?
Stats databases differ, but his averages generally fall between about 3.5 and 4.5 yellow cards per Champions League match. His red-card rate is low.
What Comes Next for Atlético and Bayern
Records under one referee don’t win football matches, but they do add tension. Bayern arrive in Madrid looking to end an unwanted run under Letexier, while Atlético will hope the Metropolitano gives them a third straight win with him in charge. With league-phase points becoming more important with every matchday, Tuesday night could shape both clubs’ paths to the knockout rounds.