Referee Juan Martínez Munuera stood out for his calm and judgment during the match between Barça and Real Madrid, controlling the match with an authority that reflected his extensive career. With 14 years of experience in the category, he demonstrated remarkable confidence in decision-making, which allowed him to manage the flow of the game without losing fluidity.
During the match, Martínez Munuera penalized 14 fouls against Barça and 11 against Real Madrid, applying the advantage when appropriate and avoiding errors of judgment in throw-in and corner kicks. His management included the decision not to punish Balde's handball against Mbappé with a penalty, which was considered correct by match observers.
The referee also showed rigorous discipline, booking key players such as Tchouaméni, Gordon and Balde for tackles that merited a penalty, as well as Cucurella and Mbappé for protests. In the 32nd minute Cucurella should have been penalized for bringing down Lamine, and in the 57th minute Cancelo should have been cautioned for a tackle from behind on Diomande. Despite these minor oversights, control of the party remained firm.
The VAR, headed by Iglesias Villanueva, did not intervene in any of the critical decisions, indicating that the referee on the field correctly perceived the situation in most cases. Martínez Munuera's performance was seen as an example of professionalism and balance, keeping the game within the rules without affecting the dynamics of the match.