Fans of both teams know it: in Spain, we like controversy. And above all, when it concerns arbitration. Many radio and TV broadcasts thus spend hours, if not more, debriefing the contentious actions and the performances of the men on the whistle weekend after weekend. Often, always with a touch of bad faith, the controversy arises even before the match.
And this time, it was no exception to the rule, as was to be expected for a game of such high stakes. On the side of Madrid, it was explained this week that the Madrid leaders feared a potential arbitration favorable to FC Barcelona. Especially after this match against Valladolid, won in added time with a score of 1-0. Meeting during which the Blaugranas would have been favored by the referee, always from a Madrid point of view. Suffice to say that Jesús Gil Manzano is under pressure for his second Clasico, he who replaces Antonio Mateu Lahoz, injured at the very last moment.
Bad memories
An appointment that is already talking. On the Barcelona side, we remember in particular the expulsion of Messi in the Supercopa de Espana earlier in the season, as he had already expelled his MSN acolytes Neymar and Luis Suarez in other meetings previously. The only three expulsions of the South American trio with Barça thus occurred with Gil Manzano on the whistle! This season, he has led the Catalans twice, for a draw (1-1 against Sevilla) and a 3-2 loss against Athletic in the Supercopa. Images of the principal concerned with a Real Madrid sack also frequently surface on social networks.
It must be said that since he has worked, FC Barcelona has won only 59% of the matches where he was on the whistle, relatively few for a club of this caliber. The Merengues have won 79% of the meetings led by Gil Manzano. But on the side of the capital, we highlight in particular the three penalties whistled at the start of the season against Zidane’s team, during this match against Valencia lost 4-1. There have been some contentious actions in other games as well, such as an unblocked penalty for Madrid against Athletic at the start of the season. A game of victimization on both sides which, without a doubt, should continue in earnest after the game.
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