Who is Mateo Busquets Ferrer, the referee for Atlético Madrid - Real Madrid today?

The inexperienced referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer will take charge of today’s Spanish-capital derby between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid, as the city rivals attempt to cut the gap on LaLiga leaders Barcelona.

After Barça’s 4-2 defeat to Osasuna yesterday, second-placed Madrid will move one point behind the early-season pacesetters if they win at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano. Victory for Atlético, meanwhile, will take Diego Simeone’s men above Madrid and to within three points of the Blaugrana.

Who is Madrid derby referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer?

Busquets Ferrer has been handed the Madrid derby in only his second season as a referee in the Spanish top flight. Unusually for such a high profile fixture, Spain’s refereeing chiefs have chosen a whistler who has not yet been added to FIFA’s list of international referees - although the 30-year-old’s appointment may be an indication that this is about to change.

Born in Palma de Mallorca in October 1993, Busquets Ferrer has enjoyed a meteoric ascent up the Spanish league pyramid. Less than four years ago, indeed, he was the man in the middle for the ‘miniderbi’ - a clash between Atlético and Madrid’s ‘B’ teams down in the third tier.

Since his promotion to the Primera División, Busquets Ferrer has handled 24 LaLiga games, including two involving Madrid. In May this year, he was assigned to Los Blancos’ 5-0 home win over Alavés on matchday 36 of the 2023/24 season; and in August, he refereed the champions’ 1-1 draw at Las Palmas, on matchday three of the current campaign. He is yet to cross paths with Atlético.

Busquets Ferrer: “I try to be as versatile as possible”

In his first season in LaLiga, Busquets showed the second-most cards of all top-tier Spanish referees, brandishing an average of 5.3 per game. This term, he has blown for the most free-kicks in the league: almost 30 per match.

Asked to define his refereeing style in an interview with the Mallorca media outlet Última Hora in July 2023, Busquets Ferrer said: “I try to be as versatile as possible. There will be games where you can talk to the players more, and there will be others where it’s harder to do that, because of the type of game, what’s at stake.

“You can’t treat every player the same all time, because there’ll be times when you can say something to a player, and others when the match changes and it’s better not to say anything. I try to manage all that so that I can handle the game the best I possibly can.”

Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid: start time, how to watch on TV/online

Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid is to be played today, Sunday September 29, 2024, with kick-off at the Cívitas Metropolitano scheduled for 3 p.m. ET/12 noon PT. Viewers in the United States will be able to watch the game on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes. Your streaming options also include the online platform fubo, which offers new users a free trial.

Enjoy Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid on fubo.

Who will Busquets Ferrer’s assistants be in the Madrid derby? Who is the VAR?

Busquets Ferrer will be assisted on either touchline by Adrián Díaz González and Javier Martínez Nicolás, with Jorge Díaz Escudero the fourth official. Javier Iglesias Villanueva will be the video assistant referee (VAR), and Francisco José Hernández Maeso will be the assistant VAR.