The Madrid classic took place on October 26, where Juan Martínez Munuera's refereeing was at the center of numerous controversies. From the beginning his management was characterized by a certain tolerance towards the players, with a few yellow cards in the first minutes and controversial decisions that fueled discussions among fans and analysts.
In the first half, the most discussed episode was that of the French midfielder Tchouaméni, who hit the Blaugrana full-back Espart hard in the 10th minute. The foul was sanctioned only with a whistle and the yellow card did not arrive until the 46th minute for a stomp on Cubarsi. In the 32nd minute Cucurella received a yellow card despite repeated fouls on his colleague Lamine Yamal, a decision that was criticized for its tardiness, which only arrived in the 92nd minute after the protests. The most controversial episode was that of Joao Cancelo in the 56th minute, when, attempting to steal the ball from behind Diomande, he hit his opponent's calf with his cleats. The referee did not request any VAR review, despite the possibility of a red card.
In the second half the tension increased further. In the 84th minute Anthony Gordon was booked for a tackle from behind on Arda Guler, despite the ball having been stolen in a regular manner. The referee deemed the action excessive, but many questioned the need for a red card. In the 94th minute Camavinga glaringly hit Rodri, an episode that some considered worthy of a VAR review similar to that of Cancelo-Diomande. However, with Barcelona on the final attack looking for an equaliser, the referee decided not to intervene.
These decisions sparked mixed reactions among fans of both teams. Barcelona supporters accused the referee of too permissive handling, while Real Madrid fans argued that the sanctions were in line with the rules. The referee, although criticized, maintained his position, stating that he followed the guidelines of international football.
The final result of the match was influenced by these controversies, with both teams trying to capitalize on the refereeing decisions. With the classic now over, football authorities will have to assess whether the decisions made were consistent with the rules and whether any revisions are necessary to ensure the fairness of the game. The future of the two clubs remains uncertain, but the controversies of this match will continue to be discussed in the coming days.