Real Madrid will have only two centre-backs at their disposal for Saturday’s La Liga meeting with Villarreal, as the club’s most recent matchday squad confirmed the scale of their defensive issues.
José Mourinho’s team will aim to steer their season back on course following an uneven beginning to the campaign. A number of players have come back to Valdebebas after the international break, yet the central defensive situation is still a significant worry.
Only Ibrahima Konaté and Antonio Rüdiger can be used in the middle of Real Madrid’s defence against Villarreal, which leaves the coaching staff with few choices at the back.
Real Madrid defensive crisis before Villarreal match
Real Madrid’s centre-back alternatives have slowly decreased in recent weeks, with multiple players becoming unavailable. The most recent blow arrived when Dean Huijsen was given a one-match ban after the Madrid Derby.
Raúl Asencio has also joined Éder Militão on the sidelines, and Militão was already a long-term absence. These missing players have further reduced Mourinho’s defensive choices before the encounter with Villarreal.
The return of players from international duty has not completely solved the issue, since central defence is still the area causing the most concern. Real Madrid’s squad announcement on Friday verified that only two recognised options are available for that role.
Ibrahima Konaté and Antonio Rüdiger are available for Real Madrid
Summer recruit Ibrahima Konaté had to depart the French national team camp early after suffering a problem while on international duty. Nevertheless, the former Liverpool defender has recovered since then and is available for Saturday’s game.
Konaté is accompanied by experienced defender Antonio Rüdiger as the only two available centre-backs in Real Madrid’s latest squad. Their availability gives Mourinho some alternatives, but the shortage means there is little margin for any further problems in the defensive line.
Real Madrid will thus enter the Villarreal fixture with a heavily depleted group of central defenders. With Huijsen suspended and Asencio and Militão unavailable, Konaté and Rüdiger are expected to carry the responsibility in the heart of the backline.