Former referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez says Real Madrid are favoured by match officials in Spain.

Gonzalez, who officiated 291 games in 17 LaLiga seasons, says that 90 per cent of referees will side with Los Blancos while the remaining 10 per cent will aid Barca.

During the El Larguero podcast, he said: "Around 90 per cent go with Real and 10 per cent with Barcelona. Whether Barca fans like it or not, 70 per cent of the Spanish population, excluding Catalonia, are Real Madrid supporters.

"There are more Barca fans these days because the younger generation has seen the trophies they won under Pep Guardiola.

"But before the Lionel Messi era, how many people supported Madrid in Spain? About 70 per cent?"