Real Madrid begin their competitive season against Espanyol on Saturday, 22 August, with Jose Mourinho facing an old problem that has troubled several of the managers who occupied the Santiago Bernabeu dugout before him: a lack of reliable cover at centre-back.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 21:30, but the club’s opening fixture is already under scrutiny because a weakness that has remained unresolved despite activity in the transfer market could leave Mourinho with limited defensive options.
The centre of defence has been a persistent concern at Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa all experienced similar difficulties during their time in charge, and Mourinho has now inherited the same issue at the start of his tenure.
The club allowed David Alaba to leave last summer and brought in France international Ibrahima Konate as his replacement. However, that single addition has not been enough to address the problem, and Mourinho has repeatedly asked for another centre-back since taking charge.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the shortage could be especially exposed against Espanyol. Mourinho is expected to have only three recognised first-team centre-backs available: Antonio Rudiger, Spain Under-21 international Dean Huijsen, and new signing Konate.
The remainder of the squad’s potential options are unavailable or outside the manager’s plans. Raul Asencio and Eder Militao are both injured, with Militao expected to spend a significant period on the sidelines. Mourinho is also not relying on defenders from the academy for the opening match.
That leaves the manager with a difficult decision over which pairing should start at the heart of the defence. Konate has played only once alongside Huijsen, in the match against Schalke 04, leaving little evidence of an established partnership before the league campaign begins.
Huijsen’s performances have improved since the early stages of his time at the club, but he continues to raise questions as Mourinho considers his options. Rudiger brings considerable experience, although his displays during pre-season have created more uncertainty than confidence.
The defensive situation means Real Madrid may begin the new campaign with a centre-back unit that appears short of depth and exposed to further setbacks. Mourinho’s immediate challenge will be to find a workable solution with the players available and prevent the long-standing weakness from undermining the opening fixture.
The Espanyol game will therefore provide an early test of how quickly the Portuguese manager can stabilise his defence. With injuries reducing his choices and no additional centre-back yet added beyond Konate, the first match of the season could highlight a problem that has followed Real Madrid through successive managerial eras.
