Huijsen closes the door

Huijsen has regained Mourinho's trust after a strong display against Barcelona, securing his place in Real Madrid's starting XI ahead of rivals Rüdiger and Militao.

Dean Huijsen has overcome recent doubts about his defensive reliability to establish himself as an indispensable centre-back for Real Madrid under José Mourinho. After a difficult spell that included a red card against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano, Huijsen faced competition from Antonio Rüdiger and the returning Éder Militao for the starting role.

However, his performance in the El Clásico against Barcelona proved decisive. Huijsen made ten clearances, blocked four shots, and contributed 16 defensive actions, demonstrating the defensive solidity that had been questioned. Playing alongside Ibrahima Konaté, he anchored Real Madrid's defence during the most demanding moments of the match, convincing Mourinho of the partnership's stability.

With Racing Avilés next on the horizon, Huijsen must maintain this improvement to keep his place. The competition for the centre-back position remains active, but he has reversed the narrative that followed his Metropolitano expulsion—from fighting to keep his spot to forcing his rivals to wait for an opportunity.