Real Madrid are facing Arsenal in the second leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions League. They are hoping to overturn a three-goal deficit for the first time in nearly 40 years, and to do that, they will have to play their best game of the season by some distance against the Gunners.
Real Madrid have not looked convincing even once this season. They have not had a full game where they were considerably better than their opponents, especially when it was a big game.
Real Madrid now head to the Santiago Bernabeu where it has been clear since the dawn of time that anything can happen.
Real Madrid vs Arsenal referee is François Letexier
Real Madrid have also been handed a superstitious boost. The referee for the match between the two giants is François Letexier. Letexier was the referee who was in charge of the UEFA Euro 2024 final between the countries of the respective teams - Spain and England back in July. He saw Real Madrid players Dani Carvajal, Joselu and Nacho Fernandez lift the trophy for the first time.
He has also officiated some huge Champions League ties involving Real Madrid. Most recently, the 2-0 defeat of Real Madrid by the hands of Liverpool was refereed by Letexier.
He also did the 3-3 draw with Manchester City in the Champions League last season, as well as the 4-2 win over Napoli in the group stage of that year. In the 2022-23 season, he did Real Madrid's 2-0 win over Chelsea.
All in all, Real Madrid have won more games than they have lost when this referee has officiated the match. He is also very experienced and a solid choice who has shown in the past that he can handle tense situations like this.
Hopefully Real Madrid give in a performance where the referee's involvement - or a lack of involvement - does not matter. Real Madrid need to win, and if this superstitious boost helps them in that sense, so obe it.