The first derby of the season at the Metropolitano Stadium left several consequences for Real Madrid. The most notable one was the growing pressure on coach Xabi Alonso, whose position on the bench began to lose strength after that defeat. However, he was not the only figure affected by the match.

One of the players who came under scrutiny was Dean Huijsen. The young defender struggled in several duels against the aggressive attacking line of Atlético Madrid, marking the first time he showed clear signs of vulnerability since arriving at the club.

Up to that point, Huijsen had enjoyed a remarkable start to his career in Madrid. During the summer’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, he emerged as one of the team’s standout performers. Alonso’s tactical system, which focused on a structured build up from the back, perfectly suited the defender’s qualities. His ability to initiate attacks became one of the team’s key strengths as Madrid dominated the tournament until their semi final collapse against Paris Saint-Germain, a match in which he was absent.

Huijsen remained one of the faces of the club’s new project at the start of the campaign. However, following the defeat in Canillejas, difficulties began to appear. The defender suffered calf discomfort that kept him sidelined for several matches, even though the club did not issue an official medical report. When he returned to action, he struggled to regain confidence. In some matches at the Santiago Bernabéu he even became the target of frustration from supporters during a tense period between the team and the fans. He was whistled in home games against Levante and Rayo Vallecano, a stark contrast to the enthusiasm that surrounded him during his first months at the club.

It was not until the end of February that the Spanish Dutch defender finally left his physical issues behind. He returned in the defeat against Getafe, a performance that still raised some doubts. Nevertheless, coach Álvaro Arbeloa did not hesitate to include him in the starting lineup against Manchester City.

Alongside Antonio Rüdiger, Huijsen delivered one of his most convincing displays in that match. He impressed defensively and also stood out with his ability to start attacking moves, an aspect widely considered his greatest strength.

Since then, with Raúl Asencio and David Alaba dealing with physical problems and Éder Militão sidelined for an extended period, Huijsen has firmly established himself next to Rüdiger at the center of Madrid’s defense. The partnership has become a key factor behind the team’s European success against the side coached by Pep Guardiola.

During this run he even scored his second goal of the season in a match against Elche. His improvement has been clear, to the point that the Huijsen Rüdiger pairing now appears untouchable at Real Madrid. The duo has finally brought stability to a defensive line that has suffered heavily from injuries throughout the season. A large part of Madrid’s hopes in what has been an extremely demanding campaign could depend on the fitness and form of this partnership.

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