The expulsion of Dean Huijsen against Atlético de Madrid has left Real Madrid with uncertainty in the central position that, according to coach José Mourinho, could change the course of the season. The young Spaniard, who had been a regular starter alongside Ibrahima Konaté, lost his place after the red card and did not regain the confidence of the coach, who opted for the German Antonio Rüdiger in his place. Rüdiger's goal in the 89th minute of the match against Roma, which secured a 3‑4 victory, consolidated their position and opened the door to a new defensive dispute.
Since the start of the campaign, Huijsen and Konaté formed the centre-back pairing most used by Mourinho, with seven joint starts in the first eight official matches. Huijsen's sending off forced the club to replace him in the game against Villarreal, and Mourinho's decision to keep Rüdiger in the lineup against Roma left the Spaniard on the bench. Now, with the city derby against Sevilla scheduled for this Sunday, the coach will have to decide whether to return the Spanish international to the starting lineup or keep Rüdiger as the safe option.
The Frenchman Konaté, for his part, continues to be one of the pillars of the Madrid defense and his continuity reduces the competition for second place to Huijsen and Rüdiger. However, the arrival of Éder Militao, who returns to the squad after several months of recovery, adds a new element to the equation. Mourinho confirmed on Saturday that Militao will be called up for the derby, despite having ruled him out in the press conference prior to the game against Villarreal. Militao's injury, which included two anterior cruciate ligament ruptures and a serious muscle injury, has required caution, but his return to the squad represents an important step towards regaining his position in the starting lineup.
The schedule of the next eight days – Seville, Leipzig and Barcelona – adds additional pressure to Mourinho's decisions. The need for rotations and the management of physical loads could influence the choice of alignment. If the coach decides to return ownership to Huijsen, the substitution at Roma would be interpreted as a specific decision; If he keeps Rüdiger, the Spaniard would face a second consecutive game on the bench after serving his suspension. In any case, the competition for central defense is presented as a critical issue for Real Madrid, which seeks to consolidate its position in the league and in the Champions League.
Huijsen's disciplinary punishment has had consequences that go beyond the loss of a match. The expulsion has altered the continuity of the Madrid defense and has opened the door to new options that, according to Mourinho, must be evaluated based on performance and physical availability. The next derby will be the stage where it will be decided who will occupy the central position, and the result of that election will have a direct impact on the team's performance in the next matches.