Real Madrid head to Saudi Arabia this week for the Spanish Super Cup, and Xabi Alonso has received a timely lift in defence ahead of Thursday’s semi-final clash with Atlético Madrid (January 8).
Los Blancos couldn’t have asked for a better start to 2026. Madrid opened the year with a commanding 5–1 win over Real Betis at the Bernabéu, with all five goals coming from academy graduates. Gonzalo García stole the headlines with a hat-trick, stepping up impressively after Kylian Mbappé’s injury.
While Mbappé is still expected to miss the semi-final, there’s optimism he could return in time for the final if Madrid book their place. In the meantime, Alonso has been handed positive news regarding two key defenders.
Carvajal and Huijsen set to travel with the squad
According to reports in Spain, Dani Carvajal and Dean Huijsen will travel with the Real Madrid squad to Jeddah for the Supercopa de España and should be available for selection.
Carvajal, the club captain, recently returned to the matchday squad after around two months out. He was on the bench against Betis but didn’t feature, suggesting the staff are still managing his minutes carefully. Even if he doesn’t start against Atlético, his presence alone is a major boost — both for leadership and for providing Alonso an experienced option on the right side of the back line.
Huijsen, meanwhile, suffered a knock shortly before the Betis match. The club delayed a final decision until matchday, but he was ultimately left out of the squad. Now, the expectation is that he will be ready for Thursday — and he could go straight back into the XI.
Selection decisions Alonso must weigh
Against Betis, Antonio Rüdiger and Raúl Asencio started at centre-back and largely handled their work. But Atlético present a different kind of problem: pace, transitions, and ruthless punishment of small errors.
That’s where Huijsen’s return could matter. He has been viewed as a long-term starter going forward and has shown strong signs over the last two months, even if his form hasn’t been perfect. At just 20, dips and mistakes are part of the learning curve — and big games are where centre-backs grow fastest.
Alonso now has real options:
- Right-back: Carvajal may begin on the bench, with Fede Valverde continuing at right-back if the captain isn’t ready for a full start.
- Centre-back: Huijsen could replace Asencio, giving Madrid extra composure and experience in build-up play — and potentially more security in key moments.
With silverware on the line, Alonso may lean toward experience where possible, but the manager also knows Madrid’s best version needs balance: control in possession, quick recovery in transition, and calm decision-making under pressure.
One thing is clear: heading into the Super Cup semi-final, Real Madrid’s defensive outlook just improved significantly.