Juan Martínez Munuera has entered the running to officiate Sunday's Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona, with the referee's name due to be confirmed at midday on Saturday. If he gets the appointment, it would be the fifth time he has taken charge of a meeting between the two sides.
The selection picture
GOAL said Mundo Deportivo reported that the appointments committee of Fran Soto, Gregorio Manzano and Fernando Teixeira Vitienes settled on Alberola Rojas on Monday. GOAL said Mundo Deportivo reported on Thursday 22 October that Munuera had since forced his way into the picture.
Munuera's current season and experience
Martínez Munuera is in his twelfth year in the Spanish league and has held the international badge since 1 January 2015. He is set to take charge of his sixth La Liga match this season after already overseeing Barcelona's 3-1 win over Sevilla and Real Madrid's 4-0 defeat of Málaga.
His previous Clásicos
If Martínez Munuera gets the Clásico, it would be his fifth between Real Madrid and Barcelona. The previous four ended with three wins for Real Madrid and one for Barcelona.
His last Clásico was the Spanish Super Cup final of January 2024, which Real Madrid won 4-1. Before that, he officiated the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final in the 2022-2023 season, a 4-0 Real Madrid win at the Santiago Bernabéu. Barcelona's only win over Real Madrid under Martínez Munuera came in the 29th round of the 2021-2022 league campaign on 20 March 2022, when Barcelona won 4-0. His first Clásico was at Camp Nou on 24 October 2020, a 3-1 Real Madrid win.
League matches with both clubs
Martínez Munuera has taken charge of 37 Barcelona league matches, in which Barcelona have recorded 24 wins, 6 draws and 7 defeats, including two losses to Real Madrid. Real Madrid have played 46 of their league games under Martínez Munuera, winning 30, drawing 9 and losing 7. No team has played more matches with Munuera as referee in the Spanish league.