Real Madrid vs Barcelona: who is the referee for the Copa del Rey Clásico first leg?

El Clásico, the name given to the rivalry between Spain’s two giants, is guaranteed to be witnessed twice a year, as LaLiga fixtures determine. But some years, and it feels like most seasons, there are bonus matches lined up for Real Madrid and Barcelona fans (and general football fans) to get excited about. The latest is in the domestic cup...

Who is Munuera Montero El Clásico referee for the Copa?

José Luis Munuera Montero, of the Andalusian Committee, will referee Thursday’s Clásico between Los Blancos and Barça. The first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final will take place at the Santiago Bernabéu as both teams look to book a place in this year’s final, as well as taking home the bragging rights, and potential momentum for the league battle.

In Wednesday’s other Copa semi-final, Osasuna picked up a valuable 1-0 lead against Athletic Club, with Jesús Gil Manzano from Extremadura whistling, and take that into the second leg in Bilbao.

Follow Barcelona v Real Madrid live

Munuera Montero’s assistants for El Clásico

Munuera Montero will be assisted on the sidelines by Íñigo Prieto López de Cerain and Antonio Ramón Martínez Moreno. The fourth official will be Manuel Jesús Orellana Cid and the VAR will be José Luis González González, with Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva as AVAR (Assistant VAR to anyone confused by the terminology).

Thursday’s Clásico will be only the second time Munuera Montero has refereed the fixture in his seven seasons as a top-flight referee.

How can I watch Real Madrid vs Barcelona in Copa semi-final?

As you’ve come to expect, we’ll be bringing you live coverage of the latest Clásico to come along, with the inimitable Paul Reidy building up to the action from an hour or two before kick-off. You can find out what you need to know about following the game with our handy Copa Clásico viewing guide.