The referee who most upset Xavi last season will direct the Barça-Espanyol

FC Barcelona and José Luis Munuera Montero will meet again this Sunday in Montjuïc in the Catalan derby (16:15 CEST). The Andalusian referee was appointed as the main judge for the clash against Espanyol, along with Jorge Figueroa Vázquez, who will direct the VAR.

This Thursday, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed the referees appointed for matchday 12 of LaLiga EA Sports 2024/25. In the case of Barça, the presence of Munuera Montero raises doubts due to recent precedents, especially the duel against Villarreal last season.

⚖️ ÁRBITROS | Estos son los colegiados designados para la 12ª jornada en Primera División.

🟨🟥 Designación completa: https://t.co/yFDOwLGpm1#ArbitrajeRFEF | @CTARFEF pic.twitter.com/vO7hYkRhje

— RFEF (@rfef) October 31, 2024

In the injury time of the match played on January 27 in Montjuïc, with the score tied 3-3, Barça claimed a penalty handball by Santi Comesaña that, finally, both the VAR and the main one considered not punishable, although the referee, In principle, he had called a penalty.

The decision to annul the penalty unleashed the anger of the Egarense coach, who ended up being reprimanded and left a memorable phrase before the 'DAZN' cameras. "It's a shame," said Xavi on two occasions, incredulous at the referees' decision. To make matters worse, Villarreal took the three points thanks to goals from Sorloth and Morales in the 90+9' and 90+12', respectively. After the game, the one from Terrassa announced his departure at the end of the season.

🗣️ "A SHAME".

🔥 I piss of Xavi after the penalti no pitado after the review of the VAR. #LALIGA

🎥 Road dazn

pic.twitter.com/zf003z5vi7

— The Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) January 27, 2024

Barça could not win with Munuera Montero whistled in 2023/24

Since then, Munuera Montero had not whistled for Barça. Previously, the Andalusian referee had also had a very controversial day in the Rayo-Barça (1-1) match in Vallecas. The main judge overlooked two very clear penalties in favor of the culés, one for a clear grab by Lejeune on Lewandowski and another for a kick by Espino on Raphinha.

Furthermore, Rayo's goal was preceded by a positional offside that the linesman himself would have recognized as punishable after the action. However, the VAR ended up validating the goal that put the hosts ahead before the break.

Espanyol, for its part, did meet the 41-year-old referee this season. It was last September 21, during the visit to Real Madrid (4-1). The 'parakeets' were thrashed despite taking the lead in the 54th minute. The referee issued 7 yellow cards that day, 3 of them for the visiting team, which only committed 5 infractions that day (due to 7 fouls by Madrid).