Real Madrid nervous about key defender
As Dean Huijsen’s recovery from injury continues, Real Madrid are optimistic he’ll make El Clásico - but uncertainty persists.
At Real Madrid, there’s unease surrounding Dean Huijsen’s return from injury. He’s targeting El Clásico, but as of today, nothing is guaranteed. With eleven days still to go, the mood leans more toward caution than celebration. And that says a lot. The club is optimistic he’ll be ready, but no one’s willing to bet on it. Especially because for a game like this, just being available isn’t enough - you have to be at your absolute best. At 200%.
What injury does Huijsen have?
Huijsen picked up the injury against Villarreal on October 4. He played the full 90 minutes, having only sat out a single minute all season when available. What started as muscle overload turned into a minor tear in his left soleus. It’s a mild issue, but one that requires a pit stop.
The club estimated a 12-15 day recovery. He left Spain’s national team camp and began rehab; at that point, there were 18 days until El Clásico. The vibes were good.
But the picture is starting to shift. Huijsen is still training alone. He used the break to visit Málaga and even attended his former club’s match against Deportivo, sporting the team’s jersey and visiting the locker room. Then it was back to Valdebebas, where he’s been grinding in the gym and working closely with the physios. He’s not there yet.
Huijsen is officially ruled out for the Getafe match. That’s a certainty. It’s the only thing the club is 100% sure about. Beyond that, the door opens to a range of possibilities.
He has a strong chance of making El Clásico, and a decent shot at being ready for Juventus. But there’s also a real possibility he misses both. Why? Because soleus injuries are notoriously tricky. The risk of relapse is higher than with other muscle groups. And eliminating that risk entirely by October 26 is a tall order.
Who could replace Huijsen for El Clásico?
The belief is that he’ll make it - but again, no guarantees. If he doesn’t, the coaching staff already has a plan: Raúl Asencio. Right now, he’s ahead of David Alaba in the pecking order. Xabi Alonso would have to choose between the two to partner Éder Militao. There’s also a remote chance Álvaro Carreras could be slotted in at center back, with Ferland Mendy - who will be fully fit by then - taking the left back spot. But that’s less likely. The most probable scenario remains a Militao-Huijsen pairing. End of story.
Still, the timing of his recovery is razor-thin - much like Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The captain is expected to be fit (his injury at the Metropolitano would mean a four-week recovery), while Trent is pushing hard to be available, though he knows he won’t be starting. If neither makes it, the coaching staff has another contingency: Fede Valverde at right back. That’s the current state of the infirmary.
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