The next Clasico is still more than a whistle away from being official, yet the prospect of Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez taking charge at Camp Nou on 25 October has already stirred unease in Madrid. The 43-year-old Spaniard is expected to be appointed for Real Madrid’s meeting with Barcelona, subject to final approval from the Technical Committee of Referees.
If confirmed, it would be Hernandez Hernandez’s seventh Clasico as the main referee. His previous six have brought a notably stronger record for Barcelona: three Catalan victories, two draws and only one win for Real Madrid.
That lone Madrid success came in the 2015-16 campaign, when Real won 2-1 at Camp Nou, with Cristiano Ronaldo among the key figures on the scoresheet. The balance of results under the Canary Islands official has nevertheless made his potential return a sensitive subject for the Madrid camp.
A contentious recent meeting
Hernandez Hernandez also handled the most recent Liga Clasico at Camp Nou in May. Barcelona won 2-0 that night and celebrated the Spanish title in front of their own supporters after the final whistle.
His appointment for that match drew strong criticism from Madrid, where some voices alleged that he had supported Barcelona since childhood and suggested it could affect his judgement. Those claims have not prevented him from remaining in consideration for another of Spanish football’s defining fixtures, although the designation has yet to receive formal confirmation.
