Real Madrid makes the injury official, KO for Alavés, he won't play again this year

Last league trip for Real Madrid in 2025. A always challenging Mendizorroza hosts the match that closes out Sunday’s action on the seventeenth matchday of LaLiga. Xabi Alonso will have to face this difficult visit to Deportivo Alavés with a squad full of new faces and many crucial absences.

The area where the Whites have the most shortages is in a defensive setup that is completely on edge. It is also affected by the suspensions carried over from the previous matchday. Just a few days ago, we learned about the significant absences of Eder Militao and Alexander-Arnold.

Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, and Eduardo Camavinga join the list of injured players. As if that were not enough, Álvaro Carreras and Fran García will not be able to be part of the squad due to suspension. Fede Valverde is dealing with muscle pain, and the coach must decide whether to give him the starting spot at right back or look for another likely unprecedented alternative.

The doubt with Dean Huijsen

But that is not all. One of those who could be in line to start at center back is Dean Huijsen. The Spanish international had missed the last five matches due to a muscle overload that did not seem to want to go away. When it seemed he could return to play, he relapsed from the injury and, all in all, he has not played for over a month (more than one month).

Nevertheless, the website Defensa Central has reported that Dean Huijsen and the Merengue coaching staff have decided not to risk his physical well-being any further. They do not want to add his name to the long-term injury list as well and prefer to prevent and look for other options for the center back position. In fact, this same source has stated that it is most likely Dean Huijsen will not play again for the remainder of 2025.

He was absent in the Champions League matches against Olympiacos and Manchester City and in the LaLiga games against Girona, Athletic, and Celta de Vigo. If this is confirmed, he will also not be present this evening at Mendizorroza, in next week’s Copa match, or in Sevilla’s visit next Saturday. Thus, for the match against Deportivo Alavés, the only fully available defender is Raúl Asencio, the last on Xabi Alonso’s defensive preference list.

Dean Huijsen and his poor performance

Besides all this, before the injury, Dean Huijsen had strung together several matches at a rather weak level. Although he started the season in outstanding form, his last few weeks had not been good at all, and criticism was already beginning to mount against him.

It is true, however, that Dean Huijsen has been included in the squad and will be in Vitoria this evening. We will see if Xabi Alonso ultimately decides to take the risk and grant him the starting spot or not. Rüdiger will also be at the Babazorro ground, as will academy players Joan Martínez and Valdepeñas. Midfielders Cestero and Thiago are the other youth team players who have traveled with the first team.