The Real Spanish Federation of Football has ratified to Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz like main referee for the crash of the day 15 of LaLiga between the FC Barcelona and the RCD Espanyol, being the fourth occasion in which the Valencian will be directing a crash between both casts. It will be besides his return to the field after having been protagonist in the controversial Argentina-Low Countries in the quarter-finals of the Glass of the World.
The last time that Mateu Lahoz was present in a crash between culés and pericos traces back to the season 2017/18, in which the Barcelona did with the three points after imposing by 2-0. For then, there was not controversy on his performance on the lawn of the Camp Nou. Before it had followed suit a course backwards, again without controversial episodes that remember in the victory of the Barça by a conclusive 4-1.
The derbi Catalan that yes presented episodes that gave a lot of what speak was the first that was to charge of the Valencian in the RCDE Stadium of the season 2014/15. For then, the team directed by Luis Enrique Martínez did with the three points; however, there would be two expulsions, the ones of Jordi Alba and Héctor Moreno. In that course, the blaugranas would direct to the title suspender belt to top the second triplete in the history.
Mateu Lahoz, in the centre of the controversy
Now, the Valencian referee arrives wrapped in the controversy after one of the most scandalous parties of Qatar 2022, marked by the high quantity of cards showed during the meeting and the fault of cautions in some infringements that remained 'impunes' along the 120 minutes. In fact, the FIFA opted for excluding him of the competition after the facts that finished blurring the show.
So much the Barça like the Espanyol are very conscious of this situation, by what from both benches will be very attentive to any incident that can arouse on the lawn of the Spotify Camp Nou, in which the Barcelona team will look for to consolidate in the peak of the classification and initiate the new year like leader, whereas the visitors will try to give a surprise in the return of the activity liguera.