Huijsen's derby red card keeps the Real Madrid centre-back race open before Sevilla

Dean Huijsen heads into Real Madrid's meeting with Sevilla without any guarantee of a starting role. His red card in the derby against Atletico Madrid brought a suspension, but it also opened a door that Antonio Rüdiger has walked through. The Spanish centre-back, a regular starter alongside Ibrahima Konaté since the beginning of the season, has been pushed aside by the German at the worst possible time.

• Huijsen served his suspension against Villarreal and did not regain his starting place against Roma.
• Rüdiger scored the decisive 3-4 goal in the 89th minute of the European comeback.
• Konaté and Huijsen were Mourinho's most used centre-back pairing, starting together in seven of the first eight official matches.
• Éder Militão returns to the squad on Sunday after months of recovery.
• Real Madrid face three matches in eight days: Sevilla, Leipzig and Barcelona.

What Huijsen lost with his Metropolitano red card

The red card against Atletico disrupted the momentum Huijsen had built with Konaté. Mourinho used that pairing in seven of the first eight official matches of the campaign, a clear sign of trust earned by the 21-year-old defender. The suspension forced a different plan in the following league game against Villarreal, where the Spaniard could not play.

By the time he was available again for the Champions League fixture against Roma, the Portuguese coach kept Konaté and Rüdiger together. Huijsen watched the comeback from the bench and witnessed the moment that made his return to the starting eleven even more complicated.

Rüdiger's decisive goal in Rome and the fight for a starting spot

Rüdiger began the season behind Huijsen in Mourinho's pecking order, but the picture has changed. His performance in the Champions League ended with a moment that is hard to beat: the German central defender scored the decisive 3-4 goal in the 89th minute to complete Real Madrid's comeback against Roma.

That goal did more than deliver a prestigious European win. It added a powerful argument to a battle that looked settled and is now fully open again. With Konaté established as one of Mourinho's pillars, the fight for the other centre-back spot has come down to two players: Huijsen and Rüdiger.

Konaté, the only untouchable figure in central defence

The French centre-back has stayed out of the debate. Konaté confirmed his status as a key player for Mourinho from the early weeks of the season and his starting role does not appear to be up for discussion. That stability leaves the contest for the second place between Rüdiger and Huijsen.

That is an awkward scenario for the Spain international. After starting the campaign as one of Mourinho's trusted defensive options, he is now competing against a player arriving with the emotional boost of a match-winning goal in Europe.

Militão's return and a packed schedule that shapes the decision

The competition for the position now has a new figure. Éder Militão will be part of Real Madrid's squad on Sunday after months of work to overcome his physical setbacks. Mourinho confirmed it on Saturday: "Militão will be in the squad tomorrow."

The Brazilian carries a delicate injury record, including two anterior cruciate ligament ruptures since 2023, one in each knee, and a serious muscle injury in April 2026. His comeback demands caution and does not mean he is ready to play ninety minutes right away, but his presence in the squad list adds another factor that Huijsen cannot ignore.

The calendar raises the stakes further. Real Madrid play Sevilla, Leipzig and Barcelona in the space of eight days, a sequence that invites rotation and could offer minutes to all of the centre-backs. Even so, Sunday's match against Sevilla will provide the first real clue about Mourinho's intentions: whether he restores Huijsen to the starting lineup or keeps Rüdiger for a second consecutive game.

The derby red card still costing Huijsen

The suspension has been served, but the sporting consequences of that sending off could reach further. Rüdiger took his chance, Konaté maintained his role and Militão is back in the picture. The disciplinary punishment may be over, but the price of that red card against Atletico Madrid could keep growing.

The young Spanish defender now faces a situation he had not experienced since joining the club. He started the season as an undisputed starter and now watches from a position of uncertainty, in a battle where his early advantage has faded.