Clasico Ref Revealed: The Man in the White Kit Set to Steer Real Madrid vs Barcelona
25 October 2025
The Referee and the Match
In an eagerly awaited Clasico, the Spanish referees committee named Cesar Soto Grado to officiate Real Madrid vs Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday.
According to AS, Soto Grado (45) was selected to lead one of football's most heated clashes, returning to a fixture that never fails to draw attention.
He has a reputation for composure and solid officiating in La Liga, and is known for handling pressure well.
At 45, he is considered among the league's most capable referees and he previously oversaw a Clasico at Bernabéu two seasons ago, a 3-2 Madrid win.
He has presided over many derbies across Spain, earning status as one of the most experienced officials in high-attendance games.
Real Madrid has played 22 matches under his whistle, with 14 wins, 6 draws and 2 losses; Barcelona has 14 matches, with 6 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses.
Despite these numbers, both clubs monitor him closely after past controversial calls. The referees' committee still trusts Soto Grado for his recent stability, and he enters the Clasico without recent history with either side this season.
VAR duties will be handled by Javier Iglesias-Bianueva for the upcoming match.
The two teams' scenarios before the Clasico
Barcelona have played 9 league games so far, with 7 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss, including a 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano and a 1-4 defeat to Sevilla.
Real Madrid have played the same number of league games, posting 8 wins and 1 loss, the latter a 5-2 defeat to city rivals Atlético Madrid.
Barcelona sit on 22 points, second in the table, two points behind Real Madrid, who reclaimed top spot with a 1-0 win over Getafe, setting the stage for the Clasico.
Match context before the Clasico has been marked by a season of tense clashes between the two giants, with both sides emphasising discipline and strategic caution ahead of this meeting.
And if drama were a sport, this Clasico would be the main event—two footballing giants, one Bernabéu stage, and a whistle that could steal the show.
Punchline time: If Soto Grado’s whistle were a sniper shot, it would land exactly where the TV replays keep circling—on the edge of controversy but always in the highlights reel.
Second punchline: In football as in life, sometimes the biggest drama isn’t the goal, but the wait for the whistle to drop—breath held, popcorn ready, let the Clasico begin.
