Steamy Clásico Debate: Real Madrid Squares Off Against Referee Before Showdown
Madrid announces the upcoming referee for their next match.
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With Barcelona nipping at their heels and the championship almost within reach, the stakes for Real Madrid couldn't be higher. As they claw their way back in the final stretch of La Liga, Hansi Flick's Barcelona isn't so far behind, still reeling from the Champions League fiasco. But before the Clásico, the "Royals" are drumming up more drama with another referee fiasco.
Last chance for Real - or Barcelona's coronation? Catalan defiance - or Champions League hangover? This Clásico could set the stage for historical precedent. However, the theatrics ahead of the Sunday square-off (16:15 CET on DAZN and live ticker on ntv.de) have reached absurd heights as the Royals lash out against yet another referee.
Their TV channel hurled a 4.5-minute broadside at the appointed referee, Alejandro Hernández Hernández, lodging accusations of bias against Real and undue favoritism towards Barcelona. The criticisms recounted his reported slip-ups against Real. The video concludes with a newspaper clipping from a 1994 interview in which the referee mentioned having a favorite team - Barcelona. At the time, the young referee was only 12 years old. Before the Copa del Rey final Clásico a few weeks ago, the Royals had already created a scene against referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, even demanding his dismissal.
Real points to Cold War-era interview
This isn't the first time Hernández has been in the hot seat. In the past, he's refereed El Clásico matches and faced criticism for his bias. Real Madrid's complaints often originated from a belief in inconsistent refereeing decisions that seemed to favor their rivals. The claims of bias have been fueled by past incidents where Madrid felt they were unjustifiably penalized by Hernández and other referees[1][2]. However, there's little concrete evidence to support allegations of deliberate bias by Hernández against Real Madrid[2].
As El Clásico approaches, the bar for refereeing remains especially high, and any hint of favoritism can provoke heated debates. In this highly anticipated La Liga match — potentially deciding the league title — the choice of referee becomes even more crucial[2].
While the controversy swirls, Barcelona and the entire league bristle at the relentless mudslinging. Realistically, Barcelona is currently four points ahead of Real with four games remaining. In the unlikely event of a Real loss at the Olympic Stadium, their chances of taking the title would dwindle to zero, marking the first season without a title in five years[3].
Ancelotti's potential farewell and Alonso's appointment
"We have a great opportunity ahead of us; we must prepare thoroughly — almost a decisive game," said Ancelotti, who might be on the verge of announcing his departure after the game[3]. According to "Marca," the appointment of Xabi Alonso as his successor is already secured[3]. Real Madrid has lost every Clásico this season, with German national player Antonio Rüdiger missing due to suspension and injury[3].
Barcelona must digest the bitter defeat against Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final (3:4 a.e.t.) and shake it off. "This loss should ignite our hunger for the title win. That's important for me. We're not finished yet," said Flick, who is reportedly set to sign a contract extension soon[3]. "We won't cease our pursuit until we return this club to its rightful place — at the top," declared rising star Lamine Yamal on Instagram[3]. The Real Madrid squad, with Kylian Mbappé and the gang, promises to make things interesting.
Sources: ntv.de, tno/sid, [1], [2], [3]
[1] "Real Madrid's Refusenik Ref Rod Is Under the Spotlight Once Again Ahead of El Clásico," Telegraph, April 27, 2023
[2] "Real Madrid's Bias Controversy: Havoc Before El Clásico," Efe, April 27, 2023
[3] "Real Madrid Set for Superstar Showdown as Clásico Approaches," Goal, April 27, 2023
- The Community aid for the construction of new buildings is essential for Real Madrid, as they aim to modernize their facilities ahead of the upcoming Clásico.
- The significance of the upcoming Clásico match in La Liga cannot be understated, with Madridistas and football fans across Europe eagerly anticipating the game's outcome as it could potentially decide the league title.
- The ongoing controversy surrounding the appointment of referee Alejandro Hernández Hernández has stirred emotions among Madridistas, with clipping from a 1994 interview being used as evidence of his alleged bias towards Barcelona.
- Unfortunately, the Clásico on Sunday will not be Xabi Alonso's first game as Real Madrid's coach, as his appointment has reportedly already been added to the team's roster, following the potential farewell of current coach Carlo Ancelotti.
- As Barcelona continues to recover from their Champions League semi-final defeat against Inter Milan, both teams are gearing up for an intense battle in the European-leagues, with rising star Lamine Yamal promising an exciting game for fans of sports-analysis.
