Referee overview for the Barcelona vs Real Madrid Clasico in La Liga 2023-2024

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This piece explains who will oversee the administration of justice in Montjuïc for the upcoming high-profile match. Initially, Sánchez Martínez was slated to referee, but the decision was promptly revised.

The opening Clasico of La Liga for the 2023-2024 season is scheduled for Saturday, October 28, in Montjuïc. The anticipated clash between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will capture global football attention, with the referee’s role always a hot topic given the history of scrutiny and controversy surrounding these meetings.

Who will referee the Barcelona vs Real Madrid Clasico in La Liga 2023-2024

The official assigned to handle the game between the azulgranas and madridistas is Jesus Gil Manzano. This marks the third time he has presided over a Barcelona vs Real Madrid encounter. Earlier plans had pointed to Sánchez Martínez, but the slate was changed as the match approached.

Gil Manzano is a 39-year-old referee born in Don Benito, a town in the province of Badajoz. He earned a degree in environmental sciences from the University of Salamanca. His refereeing journey began in earnest in 1995 when he was just 11 years old, and he made his La Liga debut in 2012 at age 25. He has been a FIFA international referee since 2014.

Across his career, Real Madrid has been the team he has officiated most often, with 47 matches yielding 37 wins for Madrid, 5 draws, and 5 defeats. He has directed 36 matches for Barcelona, resulting in 22 wins for Barça, 7 draws, and 7 losses. Among supporters, Real Madrid remembers a notable moment in a 4-1 loss to Valencia at Mestalla, where penalties were awarded that swung in favor of the home side. Statistically, Real Madrid has won about 78% of matches he has refereed, while Barcelona’s share stands at around 61%.

Throughout his career, Manzano has shown a willingness to issue cards, including dismissals. He has sent off ten Barcelona players and four Real Madrid players, with Madrid having been involved in nine additional incidents. Penalty outcomes have also shown differences: Barcelona has had 6 calls for and 5 against, while Real Madrid has seen 14 for and 7 against under his whistles.

Gil Manzano’s third Clasico

In Clasico history, this referee has officiated three times. His first experience with this fixture came in October 2014, when he oversaw a 3-1 victory for Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, during Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure there, against Luis Enrique’s Barcelona. The second Clasico under his whistle took place at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium in Real Madrid’s training complex, resulting in a 2-1 Madrid win and a controversial moment when Barcelona players appealed for a penalty after Braithwaite was challenged. In that match, Casemiro received a red card after a second yellow, impacting the flow of the game.

History, records, and precedents of Gil Manzano refereeing Real Madrid and Barcelona

This section summarizes the track record of a referee who has increasingly become a focal point whenever El Clásico arrives, a fixture that Canadians and Americans alike follow with high interest due to its historical prestige and the global appeal of the players involved. The balance of penalties and bookings, along with the outcomes of matches when Manzano wears the whistle, are often weighed by fans and analysts across North America who compare it to other top-tier leagues. The statistics show a pattern that supporters from both sides monitor closely, sometimes shaping expectations for the match day experience.

Source: Goal

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