Mateu Lahoz to oversee another Camp Nou "final"
Mateu Lahoz will referee when Atlético travel to play Barcelona, as was the case on the final day of the 2013-14 season when Simeone's side won the title.
Antonio Mateu Lahoz has been designated to oversee the potentially defining clash between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid at Camp Nou this weekend, which will bring back happy memories for Diego Simeone’s side on Saturday: by coincidence it was the Valencian referee who was in charge when Atlético travelled to Camp Nou on the final day of the 2013-14 season needing a draw to secure the Liga title and duly played out a 1-1, Alexis Sánchez scoring a belter for the home side before Diego Godín headed home to send the trophy to the red and white half of Madrid for the first time since 1996.
But the game was of course not without controversy, Mateu Lahoz ruling out a Leo Messi goal in the second half that would have handed Barcelona the title in front of their own fans. On this occasion, Atlético top the table going into the weekend with Barcelona and Real Madrid both two points adrift and Sevilla in fourth four points worse off than the second- and third-placed sides. Zinedine Zidane’s side host Julen Lopetegui’s on Sunday in another crucial game in the 2020-21 title race.
Barcelona 3-3 Atlético under Mateu Lahoz
So far this season Mateu Lahoz has officiated two games at Camp Nou, both victories for the home side (Osasuna 4-0, and Athletic 2-1). He has also overseen four Atlético games, with two home wins (2-0 Betis and 1-0 Getafe) an away victory (1-2 in Granada) as well as Real Madrid’s 2-0 derby win last December.
This will be the seventh time Mateu Lahoz has taken charge of a game between Barça and Atlético, with a balance of three wins for either side over the course of his last six matches.