Friday, April 9, 2021 at 12:21 PM• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 12:38

The Spanish Football Association has appointed another referee for the game the day before the squatter between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Originally, Matéu Lahoz was supposed to be in charge of the meeting, but the union is forced to change that. Lahoz, who was heavily criticized by the Spanish media in the run-up to the game, is injured. He is replaced by Jesús Gil Manzano.

Catalan media took a big turn on Friday morning with the appointment of Lahoz. So suggested Mundo Deportivo that Lahoz’s way of whistling rarely benefits Barcelona’s game. The 44-year-old referee from Valencia came under fire at Barcelona after he failed to award a valid goal by Lionel Messi against Atlético Madrid in the 2013/14 season in an all-deciding duel for the Spanish title. The Argentinian shot from close range in an offside position, but got the leather through Atlético defender Juanfran.

Elvio Paolorosso, assistant to then-Barcelona coach Gerard Martino, later revealed that Lahoz would have apologized in the Barcelona dressing room after the game ended. The game would end in a 1-1 draw and Atlético won the title three points ahead of pursuer Barcelona. In Madrid, the response of Lahoz will undoubtedly have been less cheerful, as Zinedine Zidane’s team delivered excellent figures when Spain’s most renowned referee El Clásico leads: three wins, one draw and a defeat in five duels.

Manzano has been in charge of a Barcelona game twenty times in the past, which under his leadership has credited eleven wins, five draws and four defeats. Real, on the other hand, won 25 of the 31 matches in which Manzano took the whistle in his mouth, on top of three draws and three losses. Manzano got the spotlight on him earlier this season when he led the match between Valencia and Real at the Mestalla. Real went down 4-1 in a crazy duel, partly due to three penalties awarded.

Barcelona did not seem to be claiming the Spanish title for a long time, but has seen an unprecedented advance since the arrival of Ronald Koeman and is only one point behind leader Atlético. Real follows on three points from the fellow townsman. In the event of a win or a draw of Barcelona against Real, Koeman’s team will lead at least a day in LaLiga, as Atlético only comes into action against Real Betis on Sunday evening. On May 9, Barcelona and Atlético will compete in Camp Nou.