Víctor García Verdura will make history, becoming the first Catalan to referee a Barça-Espanyol derby in La Liga. This unconventional appointment will test the abilities of the referee from Maresme and has stirred controversy, both among his colleagues and within the Espanyol camp, whose manager has made their displeasure with the decision clear. García Verdura was born 31 years ago in Sant Iscle de Vallalta and his career has been meteoric. At 22, he debuted in Segunda B and five seasons later was promoted to the second tier of Spanish football. Once there, he only needed two seasons in professional football to captivate the directors of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) thanks to a refereeing style that perfectly suits the profile currently sought: discreet, low-profile referees who prefer to prevent conflicts and remain inconspicuous.