International referee Javier Alberola Rojas has been appointed to officiate the LaLiga match between Sevilla and Atlético de Madrid. The game will be played this Saturday at 21:30 at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
Sevilla, currently sitting third in the LaLiga table with six points from two wins, host an Atlético side in sixth place. The Nervionenses have scored five goals and conceded two at the start of the campaign, giving them a +3 goal difference. This clash is the next fixture on the team's fixtures calendar.
Who is referee Javier Alberola Rojas?
Javier Alberola Rojas is a 33-year-old official, born in 1991 and from Castilla-La Mancha. His appointment for Sevilla-Atlético marks his second LaLiga match this season. The first was Málaga against Deportivo de la Coruña at La Rosaleda. Beyond domestic duty, Alberola Rojas has already officiated in the UEFA Europa League qualification stage and the UEFA Conference League qualification this campaign.
His career includes a recent milestone: he was the referee for the Copa del Rey final last April. That match, played at the Estadio de la Cartuja, ended with Real Sociedad beating Atlético de Madrid in a penalty shootout. He also took charge of the last Madrid derby in the league, where Atlético defeated Real Madrid 5-2 at the Metropolitano.
What is his history with Sevilla?
For Sevilla, Javier Alberola Rojas is the fourth referee to have officiated them the most times in the top flight. He has taken charge of a total of 21 league matches for the Andalusian side. The team's record under his refereeing is 12 wins, 3 draws, and 6 losses.
The last time he officiated them was on matchday 35 of the previous season. In that match, Sevilla beat RCD Espanyol 2-1 at the Sánchez Pizjuán with Luis García Plaza as coach. Their last defeat with this referee dates from the final matchday of the 2024-2025 campaign, when they lost 4-2 to Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Fans can check the team's complete performance on our stats page.
And what about Atlético de Madrid?
For Atlético de Madrid, they are the fifth team he has officiated the most in the First Division, with 20 encounters. Atlético's record with him is 11 wins, 5 draws, and 4 losses. His last match with Diego Simeone's men was on December 8, 2024, on matchday 16. On that occasion, Atlético secured a 4-3 victory at their home stadium.
Interestingly, this Saturday's clash will be the first time Alberola Rojas officiates a direct encounter between Sevilla and Atlético de Madrid. The VAR for the match will be handled by Javier Iglesias Villanueva, a referee from the Galician Committee.
What does this appointment mean for the match?
The appointment of an international category referee like Alberola Rojas highlights the importance of the fixture. Sevilla, strong at home and with a perfect league start, face a direct rival for the top positions. Luis García Plaza's team arrives with high morale after their first two victories. Maintaining that momentum will be key to aiming for the season's objectives, something that can be followed on the standings.
For Atlético, led by 'Cholo' Simeone, the match is a tough test at a historically difficult ground. The duel promises to be intense and the refereeing of Alberola Rojas, with his experience in finals and derbies, will be a factor to watch. The performance of both teams under his direction suggests an open match with chances for both sides.
