UEFA has appointed Felix Zwayer to referee Villarreal vs Paris Saint Germain, and the history around his previous games gives the Champions League tie an immediate subplot. Paris Saint Germain have never lost in four matches with Zwayer in charge, while Villarreal's only previous Champions League experience with him ended in a painful one.
PSG's record with Zwayer
So Foot reported that PSG's run under Zwayer stands at three wins and one draw in four matches. That is the main reason the appointment is being talked about before the fourth matchday, especially with PSG arriving top of the Champions League league phase on 9 points from 3 matches.
Their domestic form also looks strong. PSG have won five straight league matches, which is a neat contrast to a Villarreal side that has been uneven across its last five results, with a loss, win, draw, loss and win.
Villarreal's only previous precedent
Villarreal's only Champions League meeting with Zwayer came at Old Trafford in September 2021, when Manchester United won 2-1 and Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the final seconds. That memory is hard to ignore for a club preparing to see him again on Tuesday.
The league phase table adds more context, because Villarreal are 19th with 3 points from 3 matches. PSG's position is cleaner, and their appointment-related edge is the one that stands out most before kickoff.
So Foot's line was that Zwayer “rather brings luck to the Parisians”, and the numbers do at least explain why the appointment is being noticed. The match itself still has to be played, but the referee storyline already leans toward Paris on 3 November.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
