The referees committee of the Spanish Football Federation announced the appointment of referee José Luis Munuera Montero to officiate the anticipated derby match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, scheduled for Sunday evening at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, as part of the Spanish League competition.

Monuera will assume the role of the main referee, while Daniel Jesus Trujillo will be responsible for the video assistant technology, in a match that garners significant attention due to its competitive importance.

The Spanish referee had previously faced sharp criticism from Real Madrid and its fans following the team's match against Osasuna last season, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The club believed that the referee did not award deserved penalty kicks in their favor. Additionally, Monuera received threats on social media, an incident that sparked widespread controversy. As a result, Atlético Madrid entered the fray with a statement on its X platform account, criticizing the attack on the referee.

In terms of numbers, Munuera Montero has officiated 16 matches for Real Madrid in La Liga, during which the team achieved 14 victories, one draw, and one loss. He also previously officiated a derby between the two teams in the 2022/2023 season, which ended with a 2-1 win for Real Madrid.

During the current season, the referee officiated one match for Real Madrid, which was against Getafe and ended with a 1-0 victory for the royal team. Meanwhile, he officiated 21 matches for Atletico Madrid in La Liga, during which the team achieved 13 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses.

He also led one for Atletico Madrid this season, which ended with the team, under coach Diego Simeone, defeating Villarreal 2-0, reflecting his experience in managing matches between the two teams ahead of the anticipated encounter.