Who is Sandro Schärer, the referee for Real Madrid vs Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup?

Switzerland’s Sandro Schärer will take charge of the 2024 UEFA Super Cup today, as Champions League winners Real Madrid face off against Europa League holders Atalanta in Warsaw.

What is Schärer’s record vs Real Madrid, Atalanta?

A trained school teacher and ski instructor, Schärer has been a FIFA-listed international referee since 2015, and was added to UEFA’s elite group of officials in 2022. The 36-year-old has crossed paths with Madrid only once before, overseeing Los Blancos’ 3-0 Champions League win over Celtic in September 2022 - a game in which he was scarcely called into significant action. Schärer issued just two bookings, one to each side.

Meanwhile, the referee has coincided with Atalanta twice: in the Italians’ 2-1 win over Olympiacos in the Europa League in February 2022, and in their 2-1 Champions League victory over Sporting CP in March this year. He averaged just 2.5 bookings across those two fixtures.

Schärer’s ‘handy’ notepad

During games, Schärer is known for his unorthodox method for making a note of the players he has booked: he chooses to jot them down on the palm of his hand. It’s a habit that attracts particular attention among broadcasters in Switzerland, who frequently seek to capture shots of his unusual ‘notebook’.

Schärer’s career so far: an overview

Today’s clash in the Polish capital will be Schärer’s first experience as the referee of a European final, 17 years after he made his Swiss league debut as a teenager, in a fourth-tier clash in the 2007/08 season. Having risen up the domestic league pyramid, he was given his Swiss top-flight bow in 2013. Seven years later, he was handed his first ever game in the Champions League, taking charge of a group-stage clash in Barcelona as Madrid’s arch rivals beat Hungarians Ferencváros 5-1 at the Spotify Camp Nou.

In international soccer, Schärer refereed at his first major tournament this summer, having been named on the roster of officials for the European Championship in Germany. He was handed two games at Euro 2024: Slovenia and Denmark’s 1-1 Group C draw, and Georgia’s surprise 2-0 win over Portugal in Group F.

Real Madrid vs Atalanta: start time, how to watch

Real Madrid face Atalanta today, Wednesday August 14, with kick-off in Warsaw scheduled for 3 p.m. ET/12 noon PT. Viewers in the United States will be able to watch the 2024 UEFA Super Cup on CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, ViX, TUDN USA and Univision.