Juan Martinez Munuera and Steven McLean in charge of Celtic’s two vital matches

Brendan Rodgers’ side return to Europa League action tomorrow night, facing the Austrian champions Sturm Graz in their third group-stage fixture. UEFA has appointed Spanish official Juan Martinez Munuera to referee the match at Celtic Park, with Diego Barbero Sevilla and Raul Cabanero Martinez serving as his assistant referees.

Javier Alberola Rojas has been named as the fourth official, with Carlos del Cerro Grande overseeing VAR operations and Cesar Soto Grado providing support as AVAR. Thursday’s fixture will be the first time Munuera has refereed a Celtic match in his career.

Meanwhile, the Scottish FA has also confirmed that Steven McLean will take charge of Celtic’s visit to Tynecastle to face Hearts on Sunday.

McLean be assisted by Graeme Stewart and David Roome who will be running the lines, with Andrew Dallas overseeing VAR from Clydesdale House and David Dickinson appointed as AVAR.

It will be McLean’s first time refereeing a Celtic fixture this season, having previously taken charge of Hearts’ 2–0 win over theRangers at Ibrox last month and their Premier Sports League Cup loss to St Mirren in Paisley.

Last season, the veteran official was the man in the middle for Celtic’s meeting with Hearts in Edinburgh in November, where Rodgers’ men secured an impressive 4-1 victory.

That match was one of four Celtic fixtures officiated by McLean during the 2024/2025 campaign, who also took charge of two of the Hoops’ defeats last season – against Hibs at Easter Road and theRangers at Celtic Park in March.

For Celtic, the next two games are huge encounters. On Sunday, Hearts will see it as an unprecedented opportunity to go eight points clear at the top of the Premiership table.

Tomorrow night, Rodgers’ side cannot drop more points in the Europa League. With the three toughest fixtures against Feyenoord, Roma and Bologna still to come, three points is an absolute must. The Celtic Star will be speaking to Brendan Rodgers this afternoon at Celtic Park at his pre-match Europa League media conference.

Conor Spence

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