Merk to add some bite to Barca clash

MARKUS MERK has been appointed as referee for tomorrow night’s highly-charged Champions League fixture between Barcelona and Chelsea in the Nou Camp.

The German official, a practising dentist, is one of the most experienced in Europe and handled the Euro 2004 final between Greece and Portugal.

Barca lead the Round-of-16 tie 2-1 but when the teams met at the Nou Camp last year Swedish referee Anders Frisk was criticised by Blues coach Jose Mourinho.