After Antonio Rudiger's injury, Xabi Alonso decides to rely on Raul Asencio! | OneFootball

A real opportunity for the young Spaniard

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Experienced German defender Antonio Rüdiger has sustained an injury that will keep him out for up to three months, Madrid confirmed on Friday, leaving coach Xabi Alonso with few options at the back.

Madrid have a tough Champions League campaign ahead and will almost certainly be competing for domestic honours, meaning Alonso will likely need to rotate heavily to rest as many players as possible each time. However, given that Rudiger will be out until December, this will be a major blow to the Spanish side.

Benefit and opportunity for another member of the team

A domino effect has rippled through Real Madrid's defensive hierarchy following Rüdiger's untimely injury, an event that has sparked significant frustration within the club.

This sudden shift in circumstances has propelled Raul Asencio from a peripheral figure into a position of unexpected opportunity. He now finds himself elevated to the role of third-choice centre-back, suddenly presented with a tangible prospect of immediate first-team action.