Real Madrid fears a significant absence in defense against Barça

Published New:16/10/2025 - 20:16h

Updated New:16/10/2025 - 20:16h

Real Madrid could face another defensive setback for the Clásico on October 26 against Barça. Dean Huijsen, like Dani Olmo, has left the Spain camp due to injury

Xabi Alonso could lose his most reliable center-back against FC Barcelona on October 26. Dean Huijsen suffered a soleus injury in his left leg during his time with Spain, which prevented him from playing in the World Cup qualifying matches against Georgia and Bulgaria.

In that sense, as happened with Dani Olmo, the defender returned to Real Madrid last week and his recovery time was estimated at 12 to 15 days. In principle, Huijsen should be available for matchday 10 of LaLiga, but his progress is generating doubts in the 'merengue' coaching staff.

With Huijsen coddled, Xabi Alonso is short on alternatives in defense

Red card to Dean Huijsen in Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad of LaLiga

And it's certain that the Amsterdam native will be out against Getafe (Sunday) and against Juventus next Wednesday in the Champions League. In other words, the center-back would arrive at the Clásico without match practice to be a starter, probably partnering with Éder Militao in the center.

The other available alternative for Xabi Alonso is Raúl Asencio. However, the Spanish center-back has experienced a notable drop in performance since the Club World Cup. In fact, he was only a starter in 3 of the first 10 games of the season.

David Alaba has also returned from the 'merengue' infirmary and saw action with Austria in the FIFA date, but has not yet recovered the competitive rhythm necessary to secure a starting position (he only played one full match, against Kairat).

In the case of Antonio Rüdiger, the German will also not be available until November due to an injury to the rectus femoris muscle in his left leg. Those who would be available for the Clásico are Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold, as both have returned to training in Valdebebas.

Real Madrid's Infirmary Will Be Less Crowded for El Clásico

As things stand, Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy would, for the moment, be the only confirmed absentees for Real Madrid in the first Clásico of the 25/26 season, pending confirmation of the progress of Dean Huijsen, Alexander-Arnold, and Carvajal. The Englishman, in fact, was expected to be out for two months with a hamstring injury, but his recovery has been rapid.

In Barcelona, however, the outlook is less encouraging. Of the 8 absentees that Hansi Flick's side currently has, only 3 have a chance of arriving healthy at the Santiago Bernabéu. Lamine Yamal and Fermín López should be medically cleared this weekend, while Raphinha hopes to return by the middle of next week.

Dani Olmo, meanwhile, is also not ruled out due to his soleus injury, but like Huijsen, he would arrive very close to October 26. Joan García, on the other hand, has another 2 or 3 weeks of recovery due to his knee operation, while Robert Lewandowski is also aiming to return in November. Gavi and Ter Stegen, however, will be out until 2026.