Martinez Munuera’s El Clasico record puts him in contention for Sunday’s clash

Juan Martinez Munuera has emerged as a potential referee for Sunday’s El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona, entering the selection process alongside Alberola Rojas, who had previously been regarded as the leading candidate.

The appointment committee, made up of Fran Soto, Gregorio Manzano and Fernando Teixeira Vitienes, reportedly settled on Alberola Rojas on Monday, according to Mundo Deportivo. However, the same newspaper reported on Thursday that Martinez Munuera had also entered contention.

The Technical Committee of Referees is due to confirm the referee for the match at midday on Saturday.

Martinez Munuera is in his 12th season in La Liga and has held international status since 1 January 2015. Sunday’s fixture would be his sixth league match of the campaign.

So far this season, he has refereed Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Sevilla and Real Madrid’s 4-0 win against Malaga.

Three wins for Real Madrid in four previous meetings

If selected, Martinez Munuera would referee his fifth match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. The previous four produced three victories for Real Madrid and one for Barcelona.

His most recent El Clasico appointment came in the Spanish Super Cup final in January 2024, when Real Madrid won 4-1.

Before that, he took charge of the second leg of the 2022-2023 Copa del Rey semi-final at Santiago Bernabeu, where Real Madrid recorded a 4-0 victory.

Barcelona’s only win under Martinez Munuera in the fixture came in the 29th round of La Liga in the 2021-2022 season. On 20 March 2022, Barcelona won 4-0, giving Xavi Hernandez his first emphatic victory over Real Madrid as the club’s manager.

The first Clasico refereed by Martinez Munuera was played at Camp Nou on 24 October 2020. Real Madrid won 3-1 in a match remembered for the disputed penalty awarded in favour of Sergio Ramos.

Record with the two Spanish giants

Martinez Munuera has officiated 37 La Liga matches involving Barcelona. The Catalan club have won 24, drawn six and lost seven of those games, including two defeats by Real Madrid.

He has refereed Real Madrid in 46 league matches, more than any other club in the competition. The Spanish champions have won 30, drawn nine and lost seven of those fixtures under his supervision.