Strategy or preference – Real Madrid veteran has seen his first team spot disappear under Alonso | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s backline went through a storm last season, with injuries piling up one after another.

This season, however, Xabi Alonso has the opposite problem.

Instead of scrambling for defenders, he now finds himself with five top-class centre-backs, namely, Dean Huijsen, Eder Militao, Raul Asencio, David Alaba, and Antonio Rudiger.

The competition is fierce, and for the first time since joining Madrid, Rudiger’s place is under real threat.

Level has gone up

Until the 2024/25 season, Rudiger had been one of Madrid’s most trusted men at the back. But three games into the new season, he has only featured once.

His absence in the opening clash against Osasuna was due to suspension, but what followed revealed the bigger picture.

Against Oviedo, he started, only to then be left on the bench for the full 90 minutes in the match against Mallorca.

Antonio Rudiger played both games for Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)

Interestingly, this change has not gone unnoticed. Militao and Alaba are fully fit again after long layoffs, making them natural rivals for Rudiger.

More importantly, Alonso has shown clear faith in young Dean Huijsen. At 20 years old, Huijsen has quickly grown into a first-choice option, with his rise adding more pressure on veterans to prove themselves.

International duties keeping Rudiger confident

Notably, the silver lining for Rudiger has come away from Madrid. With Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany, he remains the defensive leader.

He played from the start in both fixtures during the international break against Slovakia and Northern Ireland, a reminder of his status at international level.

Still, the reality at Madrid is tough. Under Alonso, Rudiger faces the challenge of adjusting to a new role, which is no longer guaranteed to start, but still expected to bring experience and authority when called upon.

For a player used to being first choice, this season could test both his patience and resilience.