Real Madrid is in the final of the Spanish Super Cup after beating Atlético 1-2 in the semifinal, but the toll has not been small. Several white players left the Riyadh stadium with cramps and slight limps; Bellingham’s was even evident, although Madrid has not reported any physical problem on the part of the Englishman. And there is one who clearly retired injured and who has practically no chance of playing in the final against Barcelona on Sunday: it is Rüdiger.
The German played a good game in Jeddah, especially matching the physical fight in the white area, where Sorloth struggled to do damage and in the end he succeeded, but at that moment surpassing Asencio, the other white centre-back. However, he retired after 68 minutes of the match with clear discomfort and Madrid reported after the duel that he is almost ruled out for the final. And at that same moment Asencio was also substituted, which caused Madrid’s defense to remain as follows: Valverde, Tchouameni, Carreras and Mendy. Only one, the last one, playing in his true place.
According to Madrid, Asencio came out with discomfort that will be examined this Friday in Jeddah ahead of the final, as is the case with Rodrygo. But as AS has learned, the canary will be ready for the match and will make the necessary effort. If Rüdiger is missing, one would think that that position could go to Huijsen. But here comes a new doubt, since the Spanish international did not play a minute against Atleti after missing the first game of 2026, against Betis, due to injury. In Jeddah he warmed up, but even though the team’s two centre-backs came out, he did not enter the field. At the very least, it gives rise to doubts as to whether he is in a position to face a demanding attack like Barcelona’s.
Another alternative on the bench is Alaba, but it sounds like it has been ruled out by Xabi, who is barely giving the Austrian opportunities, who is enjoying his last months in Madrid. So the chances that a central guard will have to be invented for the Classic are high and with two main candidates, those who ended up playing against Atleti: Tchouameni and Carreras.
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Both have pros and also contraindications. In the case of the Frenchman, he has a lot of experience in the position and against Atleti he was already brilliant in that role, cutting in the last minutes a ball that was already considered a tie. But he is at a high level as a midfielder this season and his participation there is essential for Madrid to even the battle in the midfield against Barcelona, giving him up in his place sounds like too much of a sacrifice.
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And then there is Carreras, who has performed less as a center back and who has left sensations that have sometimes been good and sometimes not so much. Due to nursing circumstances, he has been seen in that position a lot so far this season and Madrid never kept a clean sheet then. If Xabi ends up betting on Asencio and Huijsen, there will be no need to invent a central defender. But if the former Bournemouth player does not reach 100%, the Galician has a good chance of starting as a central defender against the most refined attack in the League.
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