Real Madrid continues to monitor the fitness of Dean Huijsen, who has become one of the main question marks ahead of the highly anticipated Clásico against FC Barcelona on October 26. The young defender suffered a soleus injury in his left leg while on duty with the Spanish national team, and although the recovery timeline suggests he could be ready in time, there is growing concern within the club about his progress.

An untimely setback at the worst possible moment

Huijsen left Spain’s training camp after failing to recover from muscle fatigue. Subsequent medical tests confirmed a minor soleus injury, with an estimated recovery period of 12 to 15 days. This rules him out of the matches against Getafe and Juventus, but his availability for the clash with Barcelona remains uncertain.

At Valdebebas, the defender is following a personalized recovery program aimed at getting him fit for El Clásico. However, the club’s medical staff prefers not to take any risks, aware that a relapse could sideline him for several weeks. Caution prevails in the locker room, and even the player himself has opted for discretion, saying only, “We’ll see,” when asked if he expects to be ready for the match against the Catalans.

Real Madrid on medical alert

Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso continues to adjust his plans in training as injuries persist throughout the squad. Kylian Mbappé is still recovering from a right ankle knock sustained on international duty, though the plan is for him to rejoin training on Friday. Despite that, the Frenchman — who has scored 14 goals in ten games — is expected to start against Getafe.

Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, and Trent Alexander-Arnold also remain sidelined with different muscle issues. On the positive side, Ferland Mendy has recovered from his injury and completed his third full session with the group.

Currently leading LaLiga, Real Madrid is determined to avoid any physical setbacks before one of the biggest matches of the year. The potential absence of Huijsen, a key pillar in Xabi Alonso’s defensive setup, would be a major blow — especially against a Barcelona side eager to close the gap.

With the clock ticking and pressure mounting, the Madrid coaching staff hopes Huijsen will make it in time. Still, if he’s not fully fit, the priority will be not to take risks. At Real Madrid, they know that forcing the defender’s return could come at too high a cost — even for El Clásico.