Victor Garcia Verdura appointed referee for Real Madrid’s La Liga meeting with Rayo Vallecano

The Professional Referees Committee has appointed Victor Garcia Verdura to officiate Real Madrid’s eagerly anticipated La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The decision comes only days after the refereeing controversy surrounding Real Madrid’s previous league fixture, placing added focus on the official ahead of tomorrow’s match.

Barcelona-based Garcia Verdura is regarded as one of the leading figures among Spain’s emerging referees. Mundo Deportivo has previously reported that he will receive his FIFA international badge from 1 January 2027, marking another step in a rapidly developing career.

Tomorrow’s fixture will be Garcia Verdura’s third La Liga appointment of the season and the fifth occasion on which he has served as the lead referee for a Real Madrid league match.

His record when overseeing Real Madrid is largely positive. The club have won three of the four matches he has refereed, with their only defeat coming in his most recent game involving the team.

That loss was a major surprise in last season’s Copa del Rey, when Real Madrid were beaten 3-2 by Albacete at the Carlos Belmonte in the round of 16.

Garcia Verdura has considerably more experience of refereeing Rayo Vallecano, having taken charge of eight of their previous matches. Rayo are the sixth club he has officiated most often during his career.

Their record under him stands at three wins, four draws and one defeat. The loss came at their Vallecas home against Villarreal during the 2024-2025 season.

The referee’s latest assignment involving Rayo Vallecano was in the 26th round of last season, when he oversaw their 1-1 draw with Athletic Club at Vallecas.

Juan Luis Pulido Santana, from the Canary Islands, will be responsible for the VAR operation. His appointment is intended to provide additional scrutiny in a match expected to attract close attention from supporters and the media.