At a glance
- Militão faces four to five months out after a serious muscle injury against Alavés, with Huijsen ready to take over
- Huijsen is now Real Madrid’s most likely starter at centre-back for the run-in
- The young Spaniard’s Champions League numbers suggest he is ready for the responsibility
Why Militão absence makes Huijsen central to Madrid plans
Éder Militão‘s latest injury could not have come at a worse moment for Real Madrid – but for Dean Huijsen, it may turn out to be the defining moment of his season. The Brazilian suffered another serious muscle problem against Alavés and faces four to five months out, with surgery planned and the World Cup now beyond reach. At a club already managing defensive uncertainty, the timing is brutal.
For Huijsen, it changes everything.
What Militão’s absence means for Huijsen
With Militão out and Antonio Rüdiger also dealing with physical problems, Real Madrid’s centre-back options have narrowed sharply. Huijsen, signed from Bournemouth on a deal until 2030, is no longer competing for minutes. He is the answer to a problem the club needs solved immediately.
That is a different kind of pressure – and a different kind of opportunity.
The Spaniard had already gone through his most uncomfortable stretch of the season before Militão went down. His level dipped, the Bernabéu showed impatience, and Militão’s return had pushed him to the periphery during the Bayern tie. Now the equation has reversed entirely.
Militao out, Huijsen in: Real Madrid defensive shift explained
What the noise around Huijsen has sometimes obscured is that his underlying data has held up well. In the Champions League this season he has made nine appearances, logged 771 minutes, completed 53 recoveries and maintained an 89.23% passing accuracy. In La Liga, two goals, two assists and an average rating of 7.27 across more than 1,800 minutes complete the picture.
Those are not the statistics of a player who needs protecting. They are the statistics of a young defender capable of stepping into the gap Militão has left.
Five games to prove the Militão injury is his moment
The final La Liga fixtures now carry real weight for Huijsen. Madrid need him consistent, aggressive in duels and calm in possession. He has publicly acknowledged a period where he fell below his own standards. That honesty matters – and so does what comes next.
Real Madrid rarely allow young players a gentle learning curve. Militão’s injury has removed whatever cushion remained. The chance Huijsen has been building towards is here, five games earlier than anyone expected.
