According to a report by Barca Universal on Thursday October 22, 2026, Javier Alberola Rojas is set to referee Sunday’s El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou, with the Spanish official preparing for his first competitive meeting between the two rivals.

The appointment comes at a crucial point in the La Liga title race, with Barcelona holding a six-point advantage over Real Madrid. A victory for Hansi Flick’s side would extend that gap to nine points and strengthen their position at the top of the table.

According to journalist Edu Garcia, as reported by Barca Universal, Alberola will take charge of the highly anticipated encounter amid growing scrutiny of refereeing decisions in Spanish football.

The 35-year-old has officiated in La Liga since 2017 and has developed a reputation for issuing fewer yellow cards than the league average. He reportedly averages 3.6 yellow cards per match, compared with the competition average of 4.85, while awarding approximately 0.32 penalties per game.

Barcelona’s record under Alberola is relatively strong. The Catalans have won 10 of the 13 matches he has officiated across all competitions, drawing twice and losing just once.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, have recorded 12 victories, three draws and four defeats in their 19 matches under the referee. These figures give Barcelona a higher win rate, although the statistics alone do not establish that Alberola favours either side.

The referee has also been involved in several controversial incidents involving Barcelona. One notable example came during their 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo, 2-0 win against Villarreal and 3-0 triumph over Levante in La Liga last season, all of which were officiated by Alberola.

The December 2025 encounter against Villarreal attracted particular attention after the referee awarded Barcelona a penalty following a challenge by Santi Comesaña on Raphinha. He also sent off Villarreal defender Renato Veiga for a dangerous tackle on Lamine Yamal, a decision that prompted criticism from Villarreal manager Marcelino.

Another incident dates back to Barcelona’s 2-2 draw with Real Sociedad in December 2019. Alberola awarded the hosts a penalty for a shirt-pulling incident involving Sergio Busquets, but a similar incident involving Gerard Piqué at the other end went unpunished. The decision left Barcelona supporters frustrated over what they perceived as inconsistent officiating.

Real Madrid have also experienced disappointing results in matches refereed by Alberola, including their 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in September 2025 and a 1-1 draw against Girona in April 2026.

However, previous results and controversial decisions do not necessarily indicate how the referee will perform in Sunday’s encounter.

For Barcelona, consistency in the handling of physical challenges and tactical fouls will be particularly important. Players such as Pedri and Lamine Yamal will need space to influence the game, while the team must remain disciplined when pressing aggressively and attempting to stop Real Madrid’s counter-attacks.

With the title race at stake, both teams will be keen to avoid unnecessary bookings and contentious incidents that could overshadow the football.