Everything surrounding this weekend’s El Clasico feels bigger than usual.
The title race, the pressure around the referees, the atmosphere at Spotify Camp Nou, and now even the presence of the federation president have combined to turn Barcelona vs Real Madrid CF into one of the most heavily watched matches of the season.
According to reports in AS, it has been learned that Rafael Louzan, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), will be present in the VIP box for the Clasico.
The reason is obvious, as Barcelona could officially become La Liga champions if they manage to beat or even draw against Real Madrid in front of their own supporters.
That possibility alone already guarantees a huge occasion at Camp Nou, but the build-up to the game has become even more tense because of the debate surrounding refereeing in Spain this season.
Who is the referee?
Notably, Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez has been appointed to officiate the Clasico, a decision that has immediately placed extra pressure on both the referee and the VAR team ahead of such an important fixture.
Barcelona can win La Liga tomorrow. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Throughout the La Liga campaign, officiating has dominated headlines in Spain, as several controversial moments involving referees like Jesus Gil Manzano and Cesar Soto Grado have intensified criticism around VAR consistency and the lack of transparency in major decisions.
As a result, every big match now arrives with refereeing discussions already forming part of the story before a ball is even kicked.
For Barcelona, however, the focus is to win against Real Madrid and the title is theirs.
Should that happen, there is even a possibility that the players could receive the La Liga trophy immediately after the match.
Still, reports suggest the federation may prefer to wait until the next home fixture against Real Betis, on May 17, before organising the official celebration with supporters.