Mateu Lahoz has been confirmed as the man to referee Saturday's El Clasico, La Liga have confirmed.
The first thing to note about this ref is that Barca always struggles to get a result in El Clasico whenever he officiates the game.
Thus far, Barca have only beaten Real Madrid once in the last five Clasicos officiated by Lahoz - that includes 3 defeats and a draw for the Blaugrana.
Lahoz was in charge when Los Blancos beat Barca at the Bernabeu last season.
Here's a look at how El Clasico have panned out when Lahoz was at the centre:
- Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona - 2012/13 Spanish Super Cup final 2nd leg
- Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid - 2013/14 Spanish Cup final
- Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid - 2014/15 La Liga
- Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid - 2018/19 Spanish Cup semi-final 1st leg
- Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona - 2019/20 La Liga
This weekend's Clasico will be truly defining for both giants. A win for Barca could mean they assume leadership of the top-flight for the first time in 26 weeks.
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'I prefer playing in central midfield': Frenkie De Jong makes tactical demand on Koeman
"I prefer playing in central midfield, but if it is best for the team that I play at the back or in another position, I'll do it," Frenkie De Jong told Marca following Barca's 1-0 win against Valladolid on Monday night.
"We changed the system today and I've played in many positions."
De Jong is absolutely right. The Dutchman played in multiple positions for Barca this season.
Against Valladolid, Koeman deployed De Jong in the heart of his 3-man defence alongside Clement Lenglet and Oscar Mingueza. The 23-year-old was later freed to play further up the pitch when Ronaldo Araujo arrived in the 63rd minute.
The effect was evident. In the 89th minute, De Jong delivered a cross that was eventually blasted in by Dembele.
It must be said that De Jong remains La Liga's best passer of the ball this season and has played 42 games for Barca this term scoring 6 and assisting as many goals.
Rival watch: Atletico confirm Luis Suarez's injury, Uruguayan expected to miss 2-3 weeks
Atletico Madrid have confirmed that Luis Suarez has suffered a muscle injury.
The Uruguayan had to leave training on Wednesday as he felt discomfort in his left leg, according to Diario Sport.
Even though the severity of the 34-year-old's injury remains unknown for now, the same source say that Suarez is set to spend the next two or three weeks on the sidelines.
Suarez's absence gives a huge boost to Barcelona's title hopes as the Uruguayan has been Atletico's best goalscorer this season with 19 goals in La Liga.
As things stand now, the Catalans are just one point adrift of Diego Simeone's men who sit at the very top of the league table.
