Dek: UEFA has appointed István Kovács to take charge of Liverpool vs Real Madrid at Anfield on Tuesday, 4 November 2025 (UCL league phase, MD4). Here’s a clean look at his Madrid track record, the biggest calls he’s made, and what his style could mean at Anfield. [1]
Quick facts: assignment & crew
- Fixture: Liverpool vs Real Madrid — Anfield, Tue 4 Nov 2025, 21:00 CET (UCL league phase, MD4).
- Referee team: István Kovács (ROU); ARs Mihai Marica & Ferencz Tunyogi; 4th Marcel Birsan; VAR Bastian Dankert (GER) & AVAR Fedayi San (SUI). [1]
- Kovács is among UEFA’s elite and refereed the 2025 Champions League final in Munich. [6]
Madrid’s matches refereed by Kovács (UCL)
1) Manchester City 4–3 Real Madrid — semi-final 1st leg, 26 Apr 2022 (Etihad)
- Context: A breathless seven-goal classic. Kovács was praised for letting the advantage run on Bernardo Silva’s 74’ goal. [4][5]
- Key decision: Penalty for handball (Laporte) at 80’, confirmed by VAR; Benzema converted for 4–3. (Decision recorded on official match info.) [2]
- Discipline: Yellows only; high contact threshold amid end-to-end play. [2][4]
2) Liverpool 2–5 Real Madrid — round of 16 1st leg, 21 Feb 2023 (Anfield)
- Context: From 2–0 down to a stunning 2–5; Kovács handled a high-tempo, physical game without red cards or penalty interventions after the early flurry.
- Crew: Kovács with VAR Massimiliano Irrati. [3]
- Notes: No major VAR controversies highlighted in mainstream post-match reports; flow favored Madrid’s transitions. [3][8]
3) Real Madrid 5–2 Borussia Dortmund — league phase MD3, 22 Oct 2024 (Bernabéu)
- Context: Madrid rallied from 0–2 to 5–2 (Vinícius hat-trick per wire). [9]
- Crew: VAR Pol van Boekel; routine checks only, no match-defining interventions recorded on the official sheet. [10]
- Notes: Management focused on tempo; disciplinary control stayed conventional (yellows). [10]
4) Real Madrid 3–1 Manchester City — playoff 2nd leg, 19 Feb 2025 (Bernabéu)
- Context: Mbappé hat-trick sent Madrid through 6–3 on aggregate. [11][12]
- Crew: VAR Dennis Higler (AVAR Tomasz Kwiatkowski). [7]
- Notes: No prominent, outcome-shaping VAR reversals cited by wire or live blogs; game narrative centered on Mbappé’s finishing. [11][12]
Overall record with Kovács: P4 — W3, L1 for Real Madrid across the above UCL fixtures. (Confirmed via UEFA match info + ESPN reports.) [2][3][7][10][11]
What Kovács’ style usually means
- Lets the game breathe: Multiple reports highlight advantage and a high tolerance for contact in elite, high-tempo ties (see Bernardo Silva’s goal sequence in 2022). That can suit transition-heavy games like Liverpool–Madrid at Anfield. [4][5]
- Experienced VAR crews: Regularly paired with top-tier VARs (Fritz, Irrati, van Boekel, Higler), which tends to lower the risk of clear-error interventions deciding the match. [2][3][7][10]
Potential flashpoints to watch at Anfield
- Handball in the box: Kovács awarded the 80’ handball penalty vs City in 2022 (VAR-backed). Expect the UEFA handball line—arm position and consequence—applied strictly. [2]
- Duel tolerance on wingers: Vinícius Jr. and Salah-type profiles draw contact. Kovács’ higher threshold can reward strong body-to-body duels provided there’s no clear impeding or reckless force. [3][4]
- Advantage as a weapon: Quick advantages can punish defensive lapses; Madrid must stay “play to the whistle” switched-on, especially around the box. [4][5]
Referee data cards (source: official match pages)
- Man City 4–3 Real Madrid (26/04/2022): Referee István Kovács; VAR Marco Fritz. Penalty (RM, 80’). Yellows only. [2]
- Liverpool 2–5 Real Madrid (21/02/2023): Referee István Kovács; VAR Massimiliano Irrati. No pens/reds post-early phase. [3]
- Real Madrid 5–2 Dortmund (22/10/2024): Referee István Kovács; VAR Pol van Boekel. No decisive VAR changes. [10]
- Real Madrid 3–1 Man City (19/02/2025): Referee István Kovács; VAR Dennis Higler. No decisive VAR changes. [7][11]
Bottom line for Madridistas
Kovács has overseen three Madrid wins in four UCL outings, with a consistent pattern: flow, advantage, and firm control without excessive whistle. Anfield’s intensity suits his approach—discipline and concentration around advantage/second balls will matter more than lobbying the referee.
References
[1] Law 5 – The Referee — “Champions League 2025/26 Referee Appointments: MD4 (Liverpool–Real Madrid: Kovács/Marica/Tunyogi; VAR Dankert/San).” law5-theref.blogspot.com
[2] UEFA.com — Man City 4–3 Real Madrid (26 Apr 2022) — Match info (Referee team & decisions). UEFA.com
[3] UEFA.com — Liverpool 2–5 Real Madrid (21 Feb 2023) — Match info (Referee team). UEFA.com
[4] ESPN report — note on advantage leading to Bernardo Silva’s goal vs Madrid (2022). ESPN.com
[5] The Guardian — account of Kovács playing advantage before Silva’s strike (2022 SF first leg). The Guardian
[6] Reuters — Kovács appointed 2025 UCL final referee (PSG–Inter, Munich). Reuters
[7] UEFA.com — Real Madrid 3–1 Man City (19 Feb 2025) — Match info (Referee team). UEFA.com
[8] ESPN — Liverpool 2–5 Real Madrid match page (Anfield, referee listed). ESPN.com
[9] ESPN/Reuters — Real Madrid 5–2 Dortmund (22 Oct 2024) recap (Vini Jr hat-trick). ESPN.com
[10] UEFA.com — Real Madrid 5–2 Dortmund (22 Oct 2024) — Match info (Referee team). UEFA.com
[11] ESPN/Reuters — Real Madrid 3–1 Man City (19 Feb 2025) recap (Mbappé hat-trick; playoff second leg). ESPN.com
[12] The Guardian — as-it-happened live blog for Real Madrid 3–1 Man City (19 Feb 2025). The Guardian
FAQs
What is Real Madrid’s record with István Kovács in the Champions League?
3 wins, 1 loss across four matches (City 2022 L; Liverpool 2023 W; Dortmund 2024 W; Man City 2025 W). [2][3][7][10][11]
Did any big Kovács decision directly affect a Madrid result?
The clearest example is the 80’ handball penalty vs Man City (2022), confirmed by VAR and converted by Benzema for 4–3. [2]
How does Kovács typically manage physical duels and advantage?
He tends to let play flow and uses advantage proactively, as highlighted before Bernardo Silva’s goal in the 2022 semi-final first leg. [4][5]
Has Kovács handled other marquee UEFA games recently?
Yes — he refereed the 2025 Champions League final (PSG–Inter) and regularly gets top fixtures with experienced VAR crews. [6]
What should Madrid watch for at Anfield under Kovács?
Stay alert to quick advantages, be tidy with hand/arm positioning in the area, and expect a higher contact threshold in 50/50s. [2][4][5]
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