The Valencian referee JuanMartínezMunuera once again lights up the Clásico with Barça, but his history with the two giants does not favor the Barça team. According to the statistics that the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has published, the referee has registered three penalties in favor of Real Madrid and none in favor of Barcelona, in addition to having dispensed more yellow and red cards to the Catalan team.
MartínezMunuera has been in the First Division for twelve years and has been international since January 1, 2015. His next match will be the next Clásico, in which he will have the help of the VAR of the Galician JavierIglesiasVillanueva. This is his fifth time refereeing this duel, after refereeing four previous matches with results that favored Real Madrid: 1-3 in 2020, 0-4 in the semifinal of the 2022-23 Copa del Rey, 0-4 on matchday 29 of 2021-22 and 4-1 in the final of the 2024 Spanish Super Cup.
In the four games he has coached, Real Madrid has won a penalty in each of the games, all of which were converted into goals. The first was in 1‑3 in 2020, when SergioRamos scored in the 63rd minute after the maximum penalty. The second came in the 0‑4 victory in the Copa del Rey semi-final, where Benzema scored the third goal after the suspension. The last penalty was awarded in the Spanish Super Cup final, when ViniciusJúnior put Real Madrid ahead with a penalty goal.
As for the cards, Real Madrid has received 12 yellow cards in the four games, while Barcelona has accumulated 16. In addition, the only red card registered in these games was from the player Araújo, who was sent off in the 2024 Super Cup final for a double yellow card.
With these data, MartínezMunuera's overall balance favors Real Madrid, with three victories in his favor and one for Barça. The next Clásico, which will be played at the Camp Nou, will be the turning point to see if the referee maintains his historical tendency or if the result leans towards the other house. Fans and the media are already paying attention to what his performance will be like in the most anticipated duel in Spanish football.