Clásico referee Sánchez Martínez faces huge pressure
In the wake of Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea's controversial display in the Spanish Super Cup first leg on Sunday, a lot of pressure will be on the shoulders of José María Sánchez Martínez, the referee for tonight's return at the Bernabéu.
Ref's Clásico debut will be a stiff test of his abilities
A young ref of just 34 years of age, he'll have to deal with an atmosphere which, with the events of the opener still fresh in the memory and merely adding to the usual tensions of clashes between Real and Barça, will be a highly-charged one.
Sánchez Martínez was promoted to the Primera División list of officials at the end of the 2014/15 season - at the same time as De Burgos Bengoetxea - and has been an international referee since the turn of the year, replacing Carlos Velasco Carballo.
Sánchez Martínez has refereed six Real and Barcelona games each
The Murcia-born ref has taken charge of six fixtures involving Real, with Los Blancos winning five and drawing one. He has overseen the same number of Barcelona games, which have brought four Blaugrana victories and two stalemates.
Today is his debut in El Clásico. Best of luck.