Raúl Asencio receives shocking news that changes everything just hours before the Spanish Super Cup

Real Madrid is playing for a lot in the Spanish Super Cup. The Whites need to show their authority tomorrow against Atleti to reach the grand final and dispel the rumors that are circulating. Many media outlets claim that, in the event of a defeat, Xabi Alonso's future on the Bernabéu bench hangs by a thread, and that pressure is evident in every decision.

That's why the coach from Tolosa will not hesitate when it comes to fielding his best men. In a short tournament, where one mistake sends you home, Xabi Alonso prefers to cling to what is safe. He has a plan to reach the final and he will not hesitate to execute it.

In this scenario,  all eyes are on the defensive line and its multiple absences. Without Militao or Alaba, the margin for rotation is reduced and the management of matchups becomes delicate. Against an Atlético team that punishes every loss and that lives off duels, any fragility at the back can turn into an immediate sentence.

Raúl Asencio has earned the right to start

For that reason, the most likely scenario was to think that Raúl Asencio would once again start alongside Rüdiger. The academy product comes from scoring a goal in the last match against Betis and he surely is very eager to repeat in the starting eleven to show his quality. In addition, his energy and boldness have fit well in a team that needed fresh air in defense.

Raúl Asencio also has a trait that people at the Bernabéu like: he doesn't hide. In big matches, there are footballers who play with a fear of making mistakes, and that is evident in every touch and every backward pass. The academy product, by contrast, has shown that he has personality to spare.

Raúl Asencio receives news that changes everything hours before the Spanish Super Cup

However, in recent hours his situation has changed completely. The reason is as simple as it is decisive: Dean Huijsenis already fully recovered and, barring a surprise, will be in the starting line-up. The news alters the board because Xabi Alonso sees in Huijsen a profile that is closer to what he wants to build, especially in playing the ball out from the back and in reading spaces.

That's why it seems that Dean Huijsen will start ahead of Raúl Asencio, who will return to the bench to wait for his opportunity. It is not a punishment, but a decision based on hierarchy and profile. Against an Atlético team that usually presses the opponent's buildup, that first pass from the center-back can make the difference between attacking and suffering.

For Raúl Asencio, the blow is hard, but it can also be a medium-term opportunity. In a tournament like the Super Cup, matches break open, unforeseen events appear, and the bench usually decides more than it seems. If Madrid is forced to defend deeper or if Atlético floods the box, Asencio can be a useful resource to support the team in delicate moments.