Real Madrid’s predicted centre-back duo to start the new season | OneFootball

An insight into the plans of the coaching staff at La Liga giants Real Madrid for the heart of the club’s defence heading into the new campaign has been forthcoming online.

This comes amid the understanding that José Mourinho has already decided on his preferred pairing.

Real Madrid are of course primed to kickstart their 2026/27 La Liga campaign this weekend. After another disappointing year last time out, Los Blancos will be hopeful of getting things up and running in positive fashion in a meeting with Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium.

New boss José Mourinho has a whole host of selection decisions to make for the matchup, from the right-back debate to the battle for minutes in the middle of the park and beyond.

As alluded to above, though, one significant line-up call already appears to have been made at Valdebebas… As per a report from The Athletic:

‘Dean Huijsen is in line to start the season alongside summer signing Ibrahima Konate. Huijsen and Konate produced some encouraging signs in the first half against Schalke, the first match they had both started at centre-back.’

This means that Antonio Rüdiger, initially at least, will be forced to make do with a place on the bench.

Conor Laird – GSFN