The 37-year old referee was born in Pargas, Finland, and works as laboratory technician. He is regarded as one of Finland’s top referees and is very experienced –despite his young age, he has already taken charge of more than 150 games in his career.

He earned his FIFA badge in 2009 and became an international referee in 2011. He made his UEFA Europa League debut in the summer of 2009, in a 1st qualifying round encounter between JK Narva Trans (Estonia) and FK Rudar Pljevlja (Montenegro).

It’s the second time that he will meet PAOK, as he officiated their match against Dinamo Minsk on 18 September 2014 that the “Double-Headed Eagle” won comfortably at Toumba (6-1). That was his first match in the group stage of the competition. This season, he has already refereed the group match between AS Saint-Etienne and FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.

Gestranius will be accompanied by Jan-Peter Aravirta and Mikko Alakare, the assistant referees, with Jukka Honkanen acting as fourth official. Antti Munukka and Dennis Antamo complete the team as additional assistant referees.

Cypriot Kostas Kapitanis will be the Referee Observer, while Siarhei Ilyich from Belarus is the UEFA Match Delegate.