Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs will be in charge of Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Inter tonight and will oversee an Italian team for the third time in the competition.
Kovacs was announced as the match official for the game in Kiev, his seventh in the Champions League in total.
The Romanian referee has vast experience from European football, with 16 games in the Europa League and at the whistle in a host of qualifying games for both the Champions League and the Europa League too.
Last season Kovacs was at the whistle when Lazio lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in the round of 16, when the home side was awarded a penalty after 33 minutes.
In 2019-20, the 37-year-old was in charge of Napoli’s trip to KRC Genk in the group stage and tonight he will oversee Inter’s trip to Ukraine.
Kovacs was the referee when Shakhtar Donetsk played for a place in the group stage of the Champions League with a 2-1 win over KRC Genk in the third round of this year’s qaulifiers.
Kovacs has overseen four Italian clubs in the Europa League and the Champions League, as he was in charge of Roma’s 2-0 win against Braga away last term and Milan’s 1-0 win against Shkendija Tetovo in the qualifiers.
In his six appearances in the Champions League, the Romanian has awarded two penalties, one red card and 27 yellow.