Key Takeaways:
- Antonio Rüdiger has emerged as a major injury concern for Real Madrid’s Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid
- Should Rüdiger be sidelined, Dean Huijsen and Raúl Asencio are expected to start in central defence
- The coaching and medical staff will assess Rüdiger’s availability as close to kick-off as possible, given the growing uncertainty within Real’s backline
Defensive Setback for Real Madrid
Antonio Rüdiger is facing an uphill battle to recover in time for Real Madrid’s high-stakes semi-final clash with Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup. The German international, as reported by Marca and AS, is grappling with knee discomfort, and his progress is being carefully tracked by the club’s medical team and coaching staff.
🚨 CONFIRMED: Antonio Rüdiger is a serious DOUBT vs Atletico Madrid.
Rüdiger did NOT train with the squad in the final training session.
Xabi Alonso & the medical staff will wait until the last minute to decide. @marca pic.twitter.com/T25mVTCjSA
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) January 8, 2026
After undergoing a medical evaluation, Rüdiger trained individually in a bid to retain his chances of featuring in this pivotal encounter. His possible omission would represent a significant challenge for manager Xabi Alonso, who already finds himself contending with a depleted group of fit centre-backs – an issue that has become increasingly common at the Santiago Bernabéu in recent times.
Limited Defensive Options and Potential Starters
If Rüdiger fails to recover before matchday, Real Madrid’s defensive resources will be stretched thin. The likely candidates to anchor the centre of defence are Dean Huijsen and Raúl Asencio. Notably, one of them is a former Bournemouth player who joined the Spanish giants last summer and is set to return to the squad following an absence in the previous fixture against Betis due to muscle issues.
| Player | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio Rüdiger | Doubtful | Knee discomfort, individual training |
| Dean Huijsen | Likely starter | Recent muscle injury, missed Betis match |
| Raúl Asencio | Likely starter | Available |
Managerial Uncertainty and Decision Timeline
Xabi Alonso, along with the Real Madrid medical team, intends to use all the available preparation time to decide on Rüdiger’s participation, delaying any final call until the last opportunity. The uncertainty surrounding one of the squad’s defensive mainstays has amplified ahead of this decisive Madrid derby, potentially influencing the outlook for Alonso’s future at the helm of “Los Blancos”.
