Atlético de Madrid already know the referee who will be officiating the next match against Atlético de Madrid. A match that in recent seasons has gone well for Cholo Simeone's team , coupled with the decline of a historic team due to its president. Peter Lim has turned a Champions League finalist team into a mid-table team and thank goodness.
This has resulted in Atletico Madrid having swept the Valencia side off their feet in recent years. They have only lost one game in their last 18 encounters , and that defeat was last season by 3-0. Before this one, we have to go back to the 14/15 season to find a defeat by Simeone's men against Nuno's Valencia.
César Soto Grado, good record with Atlético de Madrid
The referee from Castilla y León has a good record when it comes to refereeing Atlético de Madrid matches. Specifically: eight wins, three draws and one defeat against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey. It is true that the defeat is remembered by many for how it happened rather than who it was against.
In that tie, everyone remembers how, with the score at 0-1 in favour of Atlético, the referee forgave Dani Ceballos a second yellow card for a dangerous foul on Thomas Lemar. Madrid would then equalise, taking the match to extra time, where Stefan Savić was sent off. The Colchoneros ended up outraged with the refereeing in general.
Soto Grado refereed a clash between Valencia and Atlético de Madrid at Mestalla in the 21/22 season, which ended in a 3-3 draw . Atlético fans will also remember this match, as they dropped two points in stoppage time after winning 1-3. In the 92nd and 96th minutes, Hugo Duro would level the score and seal a golden point for the Valencian club.
However, the history of matches against Valencia does not play in their favour. This referee has whistled twelve matches against them, which have resulted in three wins (and one against CD Utrillas), five draws and four defeats . Therefore, the club will not be very happy with the appointment of this referee.
Daniel Jesus Trujillo Suarez, in the VAR
The referee from Tenerife will be in charge of helping Soto Grado to ensure that the match develops as smoothly as possible. It will be his first time using the VAR in a match against Atlético de Madrid. On the other hand, he has refereed the match against Atlético de Madrid on three occasions, resulting in three victories.
While he already 'refereed' Valencia in a match in 24/25 that ended in a 1-0 defeat at San Mamés. As a field referee, he has also refereed three matches and the result is a total balance: One victory, one draw and one defeat.
All of these facts are fine and interesting in their own right. However, what will decide whether a team wins or loses will probably have more to do with what its players do than with the decisions of the referee. Relieving the referees of all pressure is the best way to see football in all its glory.