The Camp de Mestalla is preparing for a match that goes beyond the result. Valencia CF will host Real Sociedad in a LaLiga 2026-2027 7th round that promises tension not only on the field, but also in the stands. The match, scheduled for 9:30 p.m., will be refereed by José Luis Munuera Montero, an referee whose appointment has generated a wave of criticism among the Valencians and, to a lesser extent, among the Donostians.
Valencia CF arrives at the match after winning at Mendizorroza against Deportivo Alavés, with the objective of maintaining the positive dynamic and adding their second consecutive victory. However, the presence of Munuera Montero in the refereeing has set off alarms. The Jienense referee is not unnoticed in Mestalla, where key decisions from previous seasons are still remembered with indignation. In the 24/25 season, he pointed out a penalty for handball by Hugo Duro after a rejection by Javi Guerra, a goal that ultimately sealed the defeat against Celta. But the most painful memory is the first leg of the 2022 Copa del Rey semi-finals, when Munuera spoke to Yuri Berchiche and Iñaki Williams on the pitch, and between laughter said: “You know how it is, don’t get involved in the mess”, referring to Mouctar Diakhaby. The comment, recorded and disseminated, generated strong discomfort in the club, which interpreted it as an inappropriate evaluation of a player who had suffered a racist incident months earlier.
The distrust is not only Valencianist. Real Sociedad also receives the designation with suspicion. The Donostiarra team arrives after four consecutive defeats, including one in the Europa League against Bournemouth and another in the Reale Arena against Atlético Madrid. In a press conference, Matarazzo had pointed out that the team has been disadvantaged in the last few days by refereeing decisions: a penalty not awarded to Guedes, the expulsion of Jon Martín in Elche and an Ochieng hand that was punished with a penalty against Atlético. In addition, Munuera’s history with the Donostiarra club does not help: in 2023, in the Metropolitano, he did not award a penalty for a hand of Brais Méndez, but he did so later for a hand of Carlos Fernández when he was on the ground. These antecedents have fueled the tension surrounding the match.
The match will be held at the Mestalla Stadium, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. and ticket sales at several ticket offices in the city. The referee will be assisted by Luis Mario Milla in VAR. The broadcast will be made through Movistar LALIGA and live through VCF Media. Although the club has not made official statements about the appointment, the atmosphere on social networks and among fans is clear: the referee is not liked by anyone. The match will not be just a battle for points, but also for fair refereeing.