The first Clasico of the season is fast approaching, with Barcelona set to host bitter rivals Real Madrid at Camp Nou on October 25th.
Ahead of the game, there is plenty of calm at Barca. Hansi Flick’s side have enjoying a brilliant start to the season and sit at the top of the table in Spain with a perfect record.
It’s a different story in the Spanish capital, however. Jose Mourinho’s side are six points behind and saw Vinicius Jr sent off last time out, with his red card set to rule him out of the game.
Los Blancos are never reluctant to let their feelings about referees be known and were at it again after the Brazilian’s sending off.
According to Cadena Ser, there is now concern in the refereeing community about Real Madrid and their actions towards match officials in the run-up to the big game.
The report adds “they suspect, they sense, that this pressure, this hostile climate against the refereeing from Real Madrid and their entourage, is going to intensify in the next two weeks because there’s a Clásico coming up on October 25th, and that this escalation of animosity isn’t going to stop.”
The refereeing community also feels “that this escalation against referees always seems to occur lately in Real Madrid matches, and they don’t know when or how it will stop.”
Both teams will play one more Liga match before the big game at Camp Nou. Barca are at Betis on Saturday, while Real Madrid host Sevilla on Sunday.