{"id":51215,"date":"2025-10-25T17:04:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T15:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weisetech.dev\/fc-barcelona-noticias\/en\/cesar-soto-grado-referee-for-real-madrid-barca-clasico_315107_102\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T11:32:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T10:32:50","slug":"cesar-soto-grado-referee-for-real-madrid-barca-clasico_315107_102","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fcbarcelonanoticias.com\/en\/laliga\/cesar-soto-grado-referee-for-real-madrid-barca-clasico_315107_102.html","title":{"rendered":"C\u00e9sar Soto Grado: the referee of Lamine Yamal’s ‘phantom goal’ in 2024 will officiate the Cl\u00e1sico"},"content":{"rendered":"

The RFEF confirmed C\u00e9sar Soto Grado as the main referee for Real Madrid-Barcelona. Javier Iglesias Villanueva will be in charge of VAR at the Santiago Bernab\u00e9u, for matchday 10 of LaLiga<\/h2> \r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n Calendar of FC Barcelona <\/a>\r\n<\/div>

FC Barcelona<\/strong> visits Real Madrid<\/strong> this Sunday (4:15 PM CEST) for matchday 10 of LaLiga, and will do so with C\u00e9sar Soto Grado<\/strong> as the referee. The referee from La Rioja was appointed by the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA)<\/a> along with Javier Iglesias Villanueva<\/strong> (VAR).<\/p>

For Soto Grado, Sunday will be his second Cl\u00e1sico in La Liga, again at the Santiago Bernab\u00e9u. On April 21, 2024, the referee completed a performance clearly favorable to the ‘merengues’, calling a non-existent penalty by Pau Cubars\u00ed on Lucas V\u00e1zquez<\/a> (the former ‘blanco’ full-back threw himself on the ‘cul\u00e9’ center-back’s leg) in the first half, when the match was 0-1 in favor of Bar\u00e7a.<\/p>

With the tie already on the scoreboard, before the initial half hour, Soto Grado did not validate a ‘ghost goal’ by Lamine Yamal<\/a>. Goalkeeper Lunin cleared the ball behind the goal line, but the VAR cameras (led that day by Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda S\u00e1nchez Mart\u00ednez) failed to clarify the play and the goal was not added to the scoreboard.<\/p>

In the end, Madrid won 3-2 with a goal from Jude Bellingham<\/a> in added time to practically seal a La Liga title that Los Blancos ended up winning comfortably (10 points ahead of the Catalans).<\/p>

How has Bar\u00e7a fared in matches refereed by C\u00e9sar Soto Grado?<\/h2>
\"Soto
Soto Grado in Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona<\/div> <\/div> <\/div>

In addition to the aforementioned Cl\u00e1sico in April 2024, C\u00e9sar Soto Grado has refereed 14 official Bar\u00e7a matches<\/strong> since his debut in the First Division in 2019\/20. Due to his age (he turned 45 in June), the referee from La Rioja should have retired at the end of the previous season, but the RFEF decided to reward him with one more season for his good work in 23\/24.<\/p>

In any case, it is very likely that this will be his last Cl\u00e1sico as the main referee. The last time the referee from Candeleda whistled for Bar\u00e7a in the League was on May 15, against Espanyol in Cornell\u00e0 (0-2)<\/a>. That victory, with goals from Lamine and Ferm\u00edn, allowed Hansi Flick’s team to secure the title with two matchdays to spare.<\/p>

In total, Bar\u00e7a’s record with Soto Grado is 6 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses in 14 appearances<\/strong>. Real Madrid, meanwhile, boasts a very favorable record with the referee from La Rioja. The Whites have played 22 matches with this referee, totaling 14 wins, 6 draws, and only 2 losses. The most recent precedent: a 0-1 ‘merengue’ victory against Alav\u00e9s on April 21.<\/p>

Bar\u00e7a’s record in matches refereed by C\u00e9sar Soto Grado:<\/strong><\/p>

  1. Matches<\/strong>: 14<\/li> \t
  2. Wins<\/strong>: 6<\/li> \t
  3. Draws<\/strong>: 3<\/li> \t
  4. Losses<\/strong>: 3<\/li> <\/ol>

    Bar\u00e7a needs to win El Cl\u00e1sico to regain the LaLiga lead <\/h2>

    As things stand, Bar\u00e7a is obliged to win at the Santiago Bernab\u00e9u to regain the LaLiga leadership and will have to do so with a referee whose record clearly favors the ‘Casa Blanca’. For the moment, Barcelona has 22 points, a couple less than Real Madrid<\/a> after nine rounds.<\/p>

    In case of winning on Sunday, Hansi Flick’s team will surpass the ‘merengues’ by one point. The Azulgrana team also boasts the best offense in the tournament with 24 goals in favor<\/strong>, 4 more than Xabi Alonso’s. Thanks to this, Bar\u00e7a maintains a goal difference of +14 despite having conceded 10 goals, one more than their J10 rival (9).<\/p>