Xabi Alonso Faces Fresh Injury Crisis Ahead of Crucial El Clásico Showdown

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso faces yet another defensive setback following summer acquisition Dean Huijsen's departure from Spain's national team setup.

Huijsen completed the entire match in Madrid's 3–1 triumph against Villarreal before departing to meet his international colleagues, but failed to participate in training sessions after expressing physical discomfort.

The Spanish Football Federation reported that Huijsen experienced "muscular tiredness," prompting medical evaluations from staff members that eventually determined his inability to participate in the current international break.

Huijsen has returned to Madrid for additional assessment and has now been confirmed to have sustained a calf problem. Officials have not provided a timeline for his return to action.

Although Huijsen's injury appears to be relatively minor, the timing raises concerns among Madrid supporters as they look ahead to El Clásico scheduled for later this month.

Huijsen May Face 12 to 15 Day Recovery Period

Barcelona will visit the Bernabéu on Oct. 26, providing Huijsen with slightly more than two weeks to achieve complete fitness if he hopes to participate in the match.

Spanish outlet AS indicates that Madrid's medical team expects Huijsen to require approximately 12 to 15 days of recovery time, creating a tight schedule for him to demonstrate his readiness and secure meaningful playing time in what could be the season's most important clash.

This recovery period means Huijsen will definitely miss Madrid's domestic return against Getafe on Oct. 19, while his participation in the Champions League encounter with Juventus three days afterward remains questionable.

Defensive concerns continue to plague manager Alonso, who is already missing fellow center-back Antonio Rüdiger and fullbacks Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Without Huijsen available, Éder Militão will continue as a regular in Alonso's defensive setup and will probably partner with either Raúl Asencio or David Alaba, while midfielder Federico Valverde could be repositioned at right-back—he performed well in that position against Villarreal and has extensive experience playing there throughout the past year.