Soto Grado to referee Villarreal-Real Madrid clash with VAR man Melero López in tow
Madrid boast impressive record with La Rioja official despite recent red card drama for Vinicius and Mbappé under his watch
The man in the middle for this Saturday’s late kickoff between Villarreal and Real Madrid has been confirmed, with César Soto Grado getting the nod for the 9pm showdown at La Cerámica.
Madrid’s record with Soto Grado
If you’re a Madridista, this appointment should have you feeling rather chuffed. Los Blancos have a proper tidy record when the La Rioja official’s been in charge:
- 15 wins
- 6 draws
- Just 2 defeats
That’s the sort of numbers that’ll have Carlo Ancelotti raising that famous eyebrow in quiet approval.
Recent history
Soto Grado’s only run-in with Madrid this season came during El Clásico, where the capital club nicked a 2-1 win over their Catalan rivals. But it’s not all bread and honey - the last time Madrid lost under his watch was at this very ground, when Villarreal turned them over 2-1 back in January 2023.
Red card woes
Despite the positive overall record, a couple of Madrid’s star boys might be feeling a bit Adam and Eve about seeing Soto Grado again. Last season, he gave Vinicius his marching orders at Mestalla after that incident with Dmitrievski, and he also showed Mbappé a straight red at Mendizorroza for a rather tasty challenge during the Frenchman’s PSG days.
VAR duties
Mario Melero López will be on VAR duties for the encounter, manning the screens and ready to pipe up if anything controversial goes down at La Cerámica.
With Madrid looking to maintain their title charge and Villarreal always a tricky proposition on their own patch, Soto Grado might have his work cut out keeping a lid on proceedings come Saturday night.