Real Madrid travel to Barcelona on Wednesday for the first leg of their mouthwatering Copa del Rey tie.
Los Blancos will go into the game full of confidence given their recent form, with Santiago Solari guiding them to five games on the spin.
Barcelona are sweating on the fitness of Lionel Messi ahead of the showdown and will be hoping for a repeat of earlier in the season, where they thumped Los Blancos 5-1 in front of their own supporters.
Yet Spanish outlet Ok Diario say Real Madrid fear Barcelona may beat them due to the match day officials and VAR.
Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea will be the referee for Wednesday’s match.
He previously caused controversy by sending off Cristiano Ronaldo in El Clasico back in 2017.
Ronaldo was livid at the decision and was slapped with a hefty ban after pushing Bengoetxea in the heat of the moment.
And Ok Diario say they fear the referee will penalise them again, particularly given the way Real fans vented their fury at him nearly two years ago.
Real are also concerned that VAR will cost them.
Madrid feel Barcelona have benefitted from the system in recent times, while decisions that should have gone their way have not.
Whether their fears come true, however, is something that only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Real boss Santiago Solari has insisted he side will be prepared for Barcelona – whether Messi features or not.
“It’s always good when the best players get to play every game,” the Spaniard said.
“But whether or not he plays will not influence the way we prepare for the game at all.”
Barcelona boss Valverde, meanwhile, has insisted the calendar does not give his side an extra advantage.
“The schedule is tough for everyone,” Valverde said.
“Sometimes you rest more, sometimes less. I don’t see anything strange or special.
“Against Sevilla, we had one day less [rest]. Tomorrow, it’s Madrid [with one less day], then it could be Valencia, Atletico, us…”