Szymon Marciniak to referee 2018 UEFA Super Cup

Big stage: Marciniak’s appointment comes on the back of his first World Cup (Picture from BBC Sport)

Szymon Marciniak has been appointed to take charge of the 2018 UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

The Polish referee will be in the middle when the Spanish rivals go head to head in Estonia in the traditional curtain-raiser to the European campaign.

The 37-year-old, from Płock, will lead a team of officials largely from his own country for the prestigious showpiece at the Lilleküla Stadium in Tallinn.

He will be accompanied by five compatriots – assistant referees Pawel Sokolnicki and Tomasz Listkiewicz, additional assistant referees Pawel Raczkowski and Tomasz Musiał, and reserve official Radoslaw Siejka.

Ovidiu Alin Hategan, of Romania, will act as the fourth official.

The game will take place on Wednesday 15 August at 20:00 BST (22:00 local time) and will be screened live on BT Sport in the UK.

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MARCINIAK’S EUROPEAN PEDIGREE

Highest level: Marciniak has already been in charge of a number of important matches (Picture from Sky Sports)

The highly-rated official has taken charge of 58 UEFA affiliated matches to date and has encountered both teams on several occasions.

He will oversee Atletico for a third time, after presiding over their 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in 2016/17 and 2-0 defeat by Galatasaray in 2015/16 – both in the Champions League.

It will be a fourth game in charge of Real Madrid for the whistler, with the previous three all played at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League.

The Pole oversaw their 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in last season’s group phase and the 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund the year before at the same stage, while he also took charge of their 2-0 victory over Roma in a last-16 second-leg tie in 2015/16.

A familiar face to British football fans, Marciniak also encountered three English clubs when officiating five Champions League matches last term.

He handled Manchester City’s 4-0 win at Feyenoord, Tottenham’s 1-1 draw at Real Madrid and Liverpool’s 7-0 victory over Spartak Moscow in the group stage, before refereeing a 2-1 Juventus win over Spurs in the last-16 second-leg tie at Wembley, in which he denied the Italian side a clear penalty when Douglas Costa was felled by Jan Vertonghen.

Last season, he was named as the fourth official for the UEFA Europa League final in Lyon, which saw Atletico Madrid beat Marseille 3-0. Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers was the man in charge on that occasion.

Marciniak also fulfilled the same role for the 2016 UEFA Super Cup in Trondheim, where Real Madrid overcame fellow Spanish side Sevilla 3-2 – in a game refereed by Serbia’s Milorad Mazic.

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MARCINIAK’S STRANGE ROUTE INTO REFEREEING

The experienced official had an odd path into taking up the whistle.

Starting out as a player, he was so incensed at being sent off in one match that he told the referee in a foul-mouthed tirade that he was the worst he’d ever seen.

And the official replied: “If you think you can do better – you try it!”

So that’s exactly what he did, back in 2002.

Marciniak rose through the amateur ranks to make his debut in the Polish Ekstraklasa in 2009. He become a Fifa-listed referee in 2011, which made him eligible for selection for Europa League and Champions League matches, as well as internationals.

In Poland, he has refereed the Polish Cup final in 2012/13 and 2015/16, as well as last season’s Polish Cup final.

He took charge of the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final, when Sweden beat Portugal 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw at the Eden Arena in Prague.

Marciniak, who is now one of 25 UEFA Elite Category officials, has since gone on to officiate at two major international tournaments.

Respected: Marciniak has established himself among the top officials in Europe and the world (Picture from Getty Images)

He handled three matches during Euro 2016 in France – Spain’s 1-0 success over the Czech Republic and Iceland’s 2-1 win over Austria in the group stage, as well as Germany’s 3-0 victory over Slovakia in the quarter-finals.

Marciniak refereed two group-stage games at the 2018 World Cup in Russia – Argentina’s 1-1 draw with Iceland and Germany’s 2-1 win over Sweden. He was also utilised as part of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team for four matches during the tournament.

Overall last season, he took charge of 40 games across all competitions – brandishing 153 yellow cards, sending off six players and awarding 24 penalties.

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A FIRST FOR THE SUPER CUP

Star: French striker Karim Benzema could play for Real Madrid (Picture from Sky Sports)

The UEFA Super Cup will have an unusually local feel as European champions Real Madrid take on city rivals Atletico Madrid in the first one-city meeting in the competition’s history.

Real Madrid became the first club to claim three successive Champions League titles in 2017/18, and they are now attempting to add to that with another slice of history, by becoming the first side to win three successive Super Cups. A victory in the Estonian capital would also equal the competition record of five titles held jointly by Milan and Barcelona.

Atletico, however, have never lost in this competition having won on both their previous appearances, in 2010 and 2012.

Whoever wins in Tallinn, this will be a fifth successive UEFA Super Cup for Spain, who have won eight of the last nine matches.

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Uefa Super Cup 2016: Milorad Mazic to referee Real Madrid v Sevilla

Experience: Mazic has officiated at two major international tournaments, including taking charge of three games at Euro 2016 (Picture from BBC Sport)

SERBIAN referee Milorad Mazic has been confirmed as the referee for the 2016 Uefa Super Cup between Real Madrid and Sevilla next month.

The 43-year-old will take charge when the Spanish La Liga rivals lock horns in the European showpiece for the second time in three years at Trondheim’s Lerkendal Stadion in Norway on Tuesday, August 9.

He will be assisted by his regular European team of officials – linesmen Milovan Ristic and Dalibor Djurdjevic, and additional assistants Danilo Grujic and Nenad Djokic, all of Serbia.

Poland’s Szymon Marciniak has been given fourth official duties, while fellow countryman Tomasz Listkiewicz will be on standby as the reserve assistant.

The appointment has been described by Uefa as “perhaps the most prestigious assignment of his career”.

Mazic – a company director in the meat industry in his home country – has just returned after handling three games at Euro 2016 in France.

He oversaw the Republic of Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Sweden and Spain’s 3-0 win over Turkey in the group phase, as well as Belgium’s 4-0 victory over Hungary in the last 16.

Mazic, who was also fourth official for France’s 5-2 quarter-final win against Iceland, issued 13 yellow cards at the tournament but didn’t send off a player or award a penalty.

He was voted the worst referee at the 2014 World Cup in a poll of over 85,000 responses.

Mazic failed to award Iran a second-half penalty in their 1-0 defeat by Argentina and sent off Portugal’s Pepe among several dubious decisions in their 4-0 loss to Germany in his two group-stage games.

He has also been the centre of controversy on numerous other occasions – chalking off a legitimate Celtic goal in their Champions League play-off defeat by Malmo last season.

Mazic was described as “very bad” by Atletico Madrid’s Mario Suarez in their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid in 2015, with the midfielder questioning whether a Serbian should have been appointed to such a high-profile game.

The Yugoslavia-born official has been a regular in the Serbian SuperLiga since 2009, the same year he joined the Fifa list.

Since then, he has handled a number of key Champions League and Europa League games – many involving British teams.

Mazic has encountered Real Madrid twice before – in the 2014-15 Champions League in a 1-0 win over Basel in the group stages and the aforementioned goalless draw with Atletico in the last eight.

He also handled Sevilla’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Valencia in 2014, but was fourth official for the 2014 Europa League Final when Sevilla beat Benfica on penalties at the Juventus Stadium in Turin.

The 41st Super Cup – the third all-Spanish edition in a row – takes place at the home of Rosenborg BK, which is the first Norwegian venue to host a major European final.

Real Madrid edged city rivals Atletico on penalties to lift the Champions League trophy last term, while Sevilla beat Liverpool 3-1 to secure their third successive Europa League triumph.

The last two Super Cups have been officiated by British referees, with England’s Mark Clattenburg in the middle for Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Sevilla in Cardiff in 2014 before Scotland’s Willie Collum oversaw Barcelona’s thrilling 5-4 victory against Sevilla in Tbilisi last year.

Modric strikes late as Real Madrid edge past Granada

Saviour: Madrid celebrate Modric’s goal as they ended their worst winless run on the road in La Liga since 2008-09 (Picture from Sky Sports)

LUKA Modric’s stunning late strike gave Real Madrid a scarcely deserved first away win under Zinedine Zidane at second-bottom Granada.

The Croatian midfielder rifled home his first league goal of the season from 25 yards with five minutes left to get a disappointing Madrid side out of jail.

Substitute Youssef El-Arabi slotted home an equaliser for the hosts just before the hour mark after Karim Benzema opened the scoring from eight yards in the first half.

Despite the late winner, third-placed Real trail city rivals Atletico Madrid by one point and leaders Barcelona, who have a game in hand, by four points.

Solid start: Zinedine Zidane has won four of his five games in charge of Madrid, scoring 19 goals and conceding three (Picture from Sky Sports)

Madrid had scored 17 goals in their previous four matches under Zidane – who replaced the sacked Rafael Benitez last month – but were largely underwhelming at Los Carmenes.

Granada remain 19th – two points adrift of safety – after a sixth defeat in seven games but will be encouraged by their spirited display having more than matched the title challengers for long periods.

The hosts – perhaps buoyed by bottom-club Levante’s positive performance in their 2-0 home defeat by Barca earlier in the day – put an unchanged Madrid side on the back foot early on.

Adalberto Penaranda – who joined Watford on deadline day from Udinese but was loaned back to Granada – had the ball in the net after 10 minutes but was ruled offside as he was ahead of the second line of defence once keeper Keylor Navas had raced out of his area to clear.

Struggles: Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in just three away league games this season but has 30 La Liga goals in all (Picture from Sky Sports)

Cristiano Ronaldo – without a La Liga away goal in open play since October – went close when racing on to James Rodriguez’s cross-field pass but dragged his shot wide of the far post.

And Real opened up the Granada defence again to break the deadlock on the half-hour mark as Benzema swept home his 19th league goal of the season from Dani Carvajal’s cutback after the right-back was afforded acres of space to run in to.

Nemesis: The striker has now scored nine goals in 10 appearances against Granada, including the winner earlier this season (Picture from Sky Sports)

It was tough on the Andalusian outfit, who boast the second-worst defence in the division but were applauded off by their own fans at half-time having restricted the visitors to limited chances and – more importantly – few goals.

Jose Ramon Sandoval’s team matched their bright start to the first half following the break as David Barral’s downward header was kept out by the reflexes of Navas.

They were rewarded when El-Arabi – within 90 seconds of replacing Barral – stroked home beyond Navas despite Carvajal’s best efforts to clear off the line.

Modric, meanwhile, felt that referee Jesus Gil Manzano had impeded him in the build-up which led to Real losing possession but his complaints fell on deaf ears.

Revenge: The French-born Moroccan forward had a goal controversially ruled out in Granada’s 1-0 defeat at the Bernabeu in September (Picture from Sky Sports)

El-Arabi thought he had scored again when he flicked home from close range before the linesman’s flag was raised before Isaac Success had a penalty appeal turned down after Navas blocked his route to goal with a fine intervention.

The impressive hosts pushed for a winner as much as Madrid – who sent on Jese Rodriguez and Mateo Kovacic from the bench yet struggled throughout to carve clear-cut chances.

However, a fierce Modric effort from range was superbly repelled by Andres Fernandez, who also denied Benzema one-on-one although the Frenchman should have scored when latching on to a delightful Modric through-ball.

Sparse: Modric scored three league goals in his debut season in 2012-13 but has only scored three since (Picture from Sky Sports)

Real were indebted to man of the match Modric for firing a sublime effort into the corner past Fernandez just when it seemed that they had to settle for a point.

Granada asked questions of the Madrid defence in the closing stages but could not find a leveller as a relieved Zidane earned a first win on the road at the fourth attempt.

The three points keep alive Madrid’s title hopes, which have been fading in recent weeks.

Record: Granada have lost 12 of their last 13 games against Real Madrid – including a 4-0 defeat at Los Carmenes in last season’s corresponding fixture (Picture from Sky Sports)

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TEAMS:

Familar face: Former Blackburn forward Ruben Rochina was in the Granada line-up (Picture from Sky Sports)

Substitutes:  El-Arabi (on for Barral 58′), Krhin (on for Fran Rico 77′) and Doucoure (on for Penaranda 81′).

Not used:  Jesus Fernandez (GK), Biraghi, Babin, Cuenca.

Booked:  Miguel Lopes (19′), Ruben Perez (32′), El-Arabi (61′)

Goals:  El-Arabi (60′)

 

Unchanged: Real Madrid named the same team from last Sunday’s 6-0 thrashing of Espanyol as Gareth Bale missed out again with a calf problem (Picture from Sky Sports)

Substitutes:  Jese (on for Rodriguez 61′), Kovacic (on for Isco 78′) and Nacho (on for Carvajal 86′).

Not used:  Casilla (GK), Arbeloa, Casemiro, Vazquez.

Booked:  Sergio Ramos (62′), Carvajal (83′)

Goals:  Benzema (30′), Modric (85′)

 

Control: The 32-year-old Fifa official didn’t have any major decisions to make but kept a lid on proceedings and was well up with play at all times (Picture from Sky Sports)

Referee:  Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain) – 8/10
Attendance:  22,000

English clubs learn Champions League last-16 fate

MANCHESTER City will face a repeat of their last-16 tie with Barcelona in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Chelsea will be up against Ligue 1 champions Paris St-Germain – whom they beat in the quarter-finals last season on away goals.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be reunited with his former club as Arsenal were handed a kind draw against Monaco – the team he managed for seven years until 1994.

Holders Real Madrid – who topped Group B with a 100% record and are currently on a run of 20 successive wins  – will face 2011 semi-finalists and German outfit Schalke 04 for the second season running at this stage of the competition.

Elsewhere, last season’s beaten finalists and La Liga champions Atletico Madrid will face Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

Serie A champions Juventus and 2013 runners-up Borussia Dortmund will meet each other while Bayern Munich will have to beat Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk to reach the quarter-finals and Basel – who advanced from Liverpool’s group – will lock horns with Porto.

Manuel Pellegrini’s Premier League champions – who have advanced beyond the group stage for only the second time after beating Roma last week – lost 4-1 on aggregate to four-time winners Barcelona in 2013-14.

Manchester City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain – who won eight major trophies as a Barcelona player – told Sky Sports News HQ: “I think we now have plenty of confidence.

“We beat Bayern Munich and then Roma away to get here so I think we will arrive in a good moment in this stage.

“I think we have improved our squad and are stronger than last season. As a former Barcelona player, I will feel some emotion and it will be difficult for us.

“We will know everything about them and make sure we are ready.”

https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/544453710718705664

Alan McInally added: “Barcelona are not the best defensively and Manchester City can score goals when everyone is fit. Maybe this is their year and they can get revenge for last season.

“They would probably have to play with two defensive midfielders but City have got quality up front and they can hurt Barca.”

2012 winners Chelsea will be reunited with PSG after their dramatic victory in the last-eight last year – losing the first leg 3-1 before a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge took them through on away goals but Jose Mourinho’s team were knocked out in the semi-finals by Atletico.

Chelsea secretary David Barnard told Sky Sports: “PSG are known to us as we played them in the quarters last year and they’ve got David Luiz playing for them too.

“It’s a good draw logistically too for our supporters. Both sides have very different squads from last year, so if it was PSG or anyone else, it would’ve been the same situation.”

PSG’s sporting director Olivier Letang said: “We know it will be a difficult tie like last year. Chelsea scored the second goal before the end of the tie so the teams were very close. We want to be well prepared for the two legs. We know Chelsea are a very good team.

“The goal of the club is very clear – we want to go as far as possible in this competition. We hope we will have revenge against Chelsea. I think David Luiz will enjoy playing at Stamford Bridge again.”

2006 runners-up Arsenal – who have reached the knockout phase for 17 consecutive seasons – will face a Monaco side currently eighth in the French top-flight and have some familiar players such as ex-Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho and former Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov.

Monaco! I'm sure our fans will enjoy the away trip… great place, great draw! #ChampionsLeague

— Aaron Ramsey (@aaronramsey) December 15, 2014

Reacting to the draw, their club secretary David Miles said: “As the draw came out, it was evident a lot of the big teams had gone, so we’re pleased to have avoided them.

“We’re certainly not taking anything for granted though against Monaco. It’s the first time we’ve played them in a competitive match, so Arsene Wenger will be delighted to go back to one of his former clubs.”

It's AS Monaco – Mon. Wenger will be happy about the draw 😉😎 #UCLdraw #AFCvMON #COYG

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) December 15, 2014

Meanwhile, La Liga leaders Real – who achieved “La Decima” last term with their 10th European triumph – will be hoping for a repeat of their 9-2 aggregate victory over Schalke in the round of 16 last season.

What a draw for the @ChampionsLeague! Looking forward to meet @BeneHoewedes and @s04 with @realmadrid. #ToniLive pic.twitter.com/ftLTWyt6Ud

— Toni Kroos (@ToniKroos) December 15, 2014

The first legs of the ties will be played on February 17, 18, 24 and 25 with the return games on March 10, 11, 17 or 18.

Chelsea will travel to the Parc des Princes first to play PSG while Manchester City will host Barca at the Etihad Stadium before visiting the Nou Camp and Arsenal will be at the Emirates first against Monaco before going to France.

Beleaguered Barcelona code cracked by Gareth Bale

PLENTY of questions were posed ahead of the third and final El Clasico of the campaign. Would Gareth Bale live up to his price tag? Will Barcelona save their season? Can Real Madrid claim an unlikely treble?

Unjustified criticism has been levelled at Bale’s impact as a ‘big game’ player this term and contributing when it matters most but the Welshman responded emphatically by stealing the headlines in the absence of leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.

Just when extra-time was looming large, the £85.3 million man stepped up to the plate and produced the decisive moment Tottenham supporters were drooling over twelve months ago.

Once the after burners were turned on, there was no stopping him in full flow. That’s what you pay the top money for!

Bale may have failed to impose himself on the 2-1 defeat at the Nou Camp in October and in the absorbing thriller at the Bernabeu last month but he stood up and was counted for at the Mestalla.

The winning goal, worthy of gracing any stage, in the first major cup final of the campaign does not get much bigger – and Carlo Ancelotti will be eternally grateful to his marquee signing as the Real figurehead claimed a domestic cup for the third time in his managerial career.

A maiden trophy will ease the burgeoning pressure on his shoulders but the popular Italian, assisted by Englishman Paul Clement, got his reward for capably stepping into the shoes of Jose Mourinho this term, as his tactics in the Copa Del Rey showpiece testified.

Real started with a flourish – and an attacking intent that Barca simply could not match, with the breakthrough goal coming early in a manner reminiscent of Mourinho’s approach last term.

Constructive counter attacks at lightning pace with few touches – four and counting from Isco’s tenacity to rob Xavi at one end to Di Maria’s ruthless finish at the other.

The suscipion of offside was more than a mere hint, but thanks to the array of technology at television production teams’ disposal, assistant referee Pau Cebrian Devis was proved right in keeping his flag down.

Unlike many El Clasicos that have gone before, football did the talking on the pitch, thanks largely to the leniency of Antonio Mateu Lahoz – the referee who made a lasting impression on his superiors by keeping the cards in his pocket and the attacks flowing.

Madrid continuously knocked on the Barca door but found an appropriate balance to remain defensively resolute, illustrative of the approach the tactically-astute Ancelotti has adopted throughout his illustrious coaching career at Chelsea, AC Milan and Paris St Germain.

The bravery of throwing in Isco paid dividends as the diminutive former Malaga maestro came of age in a midfield trio that encapsulated a display driven by energy and commitment. Their rob-and-run tactics caught Barca cold on countless occasions.

Angel Di Maria was the outstanding performer in a dignified defeat by the Catalans 24 days ago and was the hub of the midfield trio yet equally adept as part of a quartet when Barca were in possession, which was more often that not.

The forward movement of Luka Modric gave Bale the freedom to switch sides and have an impact in different positions. Karim Benzema led the line fantastically well as a spearhead with Xabi Alonso protecting the back four effectively, breaking up play and distributing the ball quickly to those in front of him.

Although Real’s well-organised unit was tough to break down, Barca were guilty of failing to play to their strengths with the signature mark of a steady if not spectacular first period being their narrow build-up, ensuring a much easier defensive task for Real.

Had Pedro and Alexis Sanchez been selected from the start, their ability to unlock and alienate defenders could have made all the difference.

The reluctance of Cesc Fabregas to provide width meant an over-reliance on Dani Alves and Jordi Alba to push forward and ultimately left space for Los Blancos to exploit at the back.

Their vulnerability has been highlighted to the extreme with title chasers Atletico Madrid and lowly Granada condemning them to back-to-back losses by troubling the heart of their makeshift defence, which saw midfielder Sergio Busquets employed as a centre-back.

The loss of Jordi Alba at the interval to injury – their key attacking weapon in the opening 45 minutes – hit them hard.

However, it is no coincidence that results have dipped since Victor Valdes was ruled out for the rest of the season. Jose Pinto has always been a liability but manages to retain the faith of those in charge.

With Valdes set for pastures new in the summer, the prospect of the understudy filling the breach of number one next season is a frightening one.

After 33 crosses at the weekend, Barca attempted 13 in the first 45 minutes, compared to Real’s three. So often dubbed one-dimensional, the Catalans just could not diversify their play.

Hogging the ball in the final third without the pulling power to pack a punch – the same shortcomings have been a familiar tale for Barca in recent times.

Tata Martino has been ridiculed in the Spanish press for trying to change the philosophy that has been long associated with the club. But if Plan A does not work, what is he supposed to do?

Their dominance on the ball and ability to rack up the passing stats was a given – carving the opportunities to accompany it was the challenge.

But in reality, clear-cut chances were few and far between for a Barcelona who were unusually devoid of ideas for much of the contest.

Four shots on target in 90 minutes, nevertheless, was a pitiful return. Two of which came from centre-back Marc Bartra, one resulting in a rare set-piece goal.

The Argentine boss had the look of a concerned man throughout and as the full-time whistle reverberated across the terraces, that disillusioned feeling was expressed by many of his players and the Barca spectators who made the trip to Valencia more in hope than expectation.

Neymar cut a frustrated figure, Lionel Messi was a broken man and Carles Puyol didn’t know where to turn. It was an experience that has rarely been contemplated by these high-profile professionals.

The occasion offered Barca the opportunity to fight for their lives and salvage a semblance of success from an utterly dismal campaign. Instead, it reached crisis point.

A third defeat in a row for the first time in 11 years, Messi’s evident loss of form, a series of below-par performances, ominous defensive frailties and a lack of confidence in his methods. Martino has no place to hide and a number of issues that need addressing desperately.

Out of the Champions League before the semi-final stage for the first time in seven seasons, installed as third favourites to retain the league title they claimed last term and now second best in the Copa Del Rey they have won a record 26 times.

Their treble hopes have been trashed in no fewer than seven days flat with just the Spanish Super Cup to regard as remote success during Martino’s brief reign thus far.

Like the famous Meat Loaf track uttered, “two out of three ain’t bad” – for Barca this term by taking a glance of their El Clasico record.

A La Liga double over their fiercest rivals have been two high points in a tough season filled with lows. The all-conquering, invincible, trophy-laiden Barca of the Pep Guardiola era are a force of the distant past.

Imploding institutionally with the transfer embargo imposed by Fifa, these are troubled times on and off the field for the Nou Camp side.

In a game of fine margins, Real merited their success by making the most of their moments on a night in which Gareth Bale arguably stepped up into the world class category.

Bayern Munich are waiting just around the corner in a potentially explosive last-four European tie and the possibility of catching neighbours Atletico on the domestic front is plausible. Real’s season still has plenty of life left in it.

Ancelotti won the tactical battle in the personal duel with Martino, who has some almighty conundrums to solve if he is to occupy one of the biggest hotseats in world football come the start of next term.

 

Real Madrid vs Barcelona Image by Muhaidib via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License

Mateu Lahoz in charge of El Clasico Copa Del Rey final

At the helm: Mateu Lahoz has been tasked with handling the third El Clasico meeting of the season in the Copa Del Rey final – his second major appointment as a Spanish top-flight official

ANTONIO Miguel Mateu Lahoz will referee the El Clasico meeting between Real Madrid and Barcelona in the 2014 Copa Del Rey final.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RSFF) have confirmed the experienced 37-year-old from Valencia will take charge of the showpiece at Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium on Wednesday.

Lahoz has never overseen an El Clasico in La Liga or the Copa Del Rey but officiated a Supercopa second leg at the Bernabeu in August 2012, dismissing Barca full-back Adriano for a professional foul on Cristiano Ronaldo, with Real winning on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate scoreline.

The Fifa official, who has been a Champions League and Europa League mainstay since 2011, is regarded as one of the most permissive La Liga whistlers in allowing games to flow without too many stoppages.

Antonio Mateu Lahoz will referee the Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Real Madrid on 16 April [via @champ_ian]

— ME5SISTATS (@MessiStats) April 7, 2014

Pau Cebrian Devis and Raul Cabanero Martinez will be the assistant referees while Aragon’s Carlos Clos Gomez – who oversaw Atletico’s 2-1 Madrid derby win over Real in last season’s final – is the fourth official.

Lahoz has brandished 156 yellows and seven red cards in 30 games in all competitions this season, whilst awarding ten penalties.

He has been in the middle for three Barcelona matches in La Liga as well as one each in La Liga and the Copa Del Rey for Real Madrid in 2013-14.

The Physical Education teacher was in charge of Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Marseille at the Emirates in the Champions League group stages in October, giving the Gunners a first-half spotkick which Mesut Ozil missed.

Additionally, he handled a 3-0 win for Tottenham over Inter Milan in the last 16 phase of the Europa League last season and cautioned Gareth Bale for diving in the penalty area at White Hart Lane.

Lahoz was given a one-match suspension for a “technical error” in Barcelona’s 3-2 La Liga victory over Sevilla in October 2012 after controversially sending off Gary Medel for an alleged headbutt on Cesc Fabregas before ordering Sevilla boss Michel to the stands and failing to spot a Thiago handball in the build-up to Fabregas’s equaliser.

He was overlooked by Fifa as Spain’s representative at this summer’s World Cup, with Carlos Velasco Carballo selected instead.

The RFEF were due to announce the appointment last week but postponed due to Fifa sanctions levied against the governing body.

Barca have won two league encounters against Real so far this term – a 2-1 victory at the Nou Camp in October and a thrilling 4-3 triumph at the Bernabeu last month, both of which were refereed by Alberto Undiano Mallenco.

The eagerly anticipated 111th Copa Del Rey final kicks off at 21:30 (European Central Time) on April 16, with live coverage exclusively on Sky Sports.

 

Mateu Lahoz lines up with mascot Image by Ronnie MacDonald via Creative Commons License