Who is José Luis Munuera, the referee for Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid derby?

José Luis Munuera Montero, 42, continues to climb the refereeing ladder. The Andalusian official has been chosen to take charge of the derby between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid on Sunday night at the Santiago Bernabéu. He has found his stride this season after a difficult start, but Fran Soto’s refereeing committee has made clear that it intends to reward officials based on form, something reflected in Munuera Montero’s appointment for the derby.

He arrives at the Bernabéu having needed just one VAR intervention in the 13 league games he has overseen so far this season. Cordero Vega and García Verdura follow with two interventions each. That figure is especially valued by the refereeing committee, since Fran Soto favors a less interventionist VAR approach in order to give greater prominence to the on-field referee.

Another notable number from his season is that he has awarded only one penalty in league play, a mark matched by García Verdura. Five red cards and an average of four yellow cards per game show that he has controlled the stage well this season and knows how to handle games calmly, always trying to explain his decisions, as he did during the famous first-half stoppage time in the Spanish Super Cup final. He was the referee for that final in Jeddah between Real Madrid and Barcelona, which ended in a Barcelona victory.

His standing within the Technical Committee of Referees has risen steadily over the course of the season, as shown by his selection for decisive games such as the derby at the Bernabéu and the recent Spanish Super Cup final.

This season he has also been seen in Europe, refereeing a Conference League game and regularly working as part of the Spanish officiating group in the Champions League. It should not be forgotten that he has been an international referee since 2019. He was also called up by the Saudi Pro League to officiate the game between Al Ahli and Al Qadsiah, the club of Nacho Fernández.

His most recent LaLiga assignment was Athletic Club vs. Barcelona. In league play, he has officiated 23 Atlético games and 21 for Real Madrid. He was also the referee for the 2024 Copa del Rey final between Athletic Club and Mallorca.

The signing of the new refereeing agreement took place this week, with Real Madrid absent, adding yet another layer of tension to a fixture already defined by it. If there is one thing the Andalusian official has shown, it is an ability to overcome difficult environments and move past tough moments. Munuera Montero refereed his first Madrid derby in LaLiga in September 2022.

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