Real Madrid News
Official: Real Madrid starting lineup to face Pachuca
Real Madrid have announced their starting lineup which will take on Pachuca this evening.
Despiute a 1-1 draw with Al Hilal in the first match, Real Madrid’s new head coach Xabi Alonso has made minimal changes to the starting eleven.
The only major change is Arda Guler coming in for the struggling Rodrygo, whose performance in the first game was far from ideal.
Guler comes into the starting eleven and will likely operate out wide, alongside Vinicius Junior, with Gonzalo Garcia leading the frontline.
Alonso continues with a familiar backline, with Trent Alexander-Arnold once again starting ahead of Lucas Vazquez.
Fran Garcia operates at left-back, with Dean Huijsen and Raul Asencio forming the central defensive pairing.
The midfield remains the same, comprising Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde.
All eyes will be on Bellingham this evening as he looks to make a comeback after a poor showing in the first game.
Finding a solution to Bellingham’s underperformance should be on one of Alonso’s priorities this summer and the Spaniard, to that end, should take a page out of Dortmund’s book for that.
On the bench, Alonso has no shortage of options either, including the likes of Luka Modric, Dani Ceballs and Brahim, among others.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid star Huijsen credits Mourinho for improved form in new season: ‘He supports me a lot’
Real Madrid will be looking to get back to winning ways in LaLiga as they take on Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.
The club are coming on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis last weekend but did secure a narrow win over Inter Milan in the midweek Champions League fixture.
Heading into this game, Dean Huijsen, who has been showing a lot of promise in these early parts of the season, spoke to the club’s official media about the match ahead and how Real Madrid have been coping with the pressure early on, among other things.
Huijsen on Rayo and his defensive duties
The young centre-back was fully aware of the threat posed by Rayo and praised the opposition.
“We know that Rayo is a good team, and it’s a tough team to face, and we must give our all as we do in all matches to secure the three points, that’s the only thing that matters, and for the Bernabeu to be with us and for us all to be united,” he said.
He also detailed the defensive demands placed on him by the coaching staff led by Jose Mourinho.
“Well, what every coach asks of you: ferocity, intercepting balls, and winning one-on-one duels. He supports me a lot, and I think this helps me greatly, and defending together as a team,” he said.
On the team’s preparations for the fixture, Huijsen offered an insight into their training routine.
“We’re working on some tactics related to the opponent. And well, after that it depends on the day; we might play a mini-match among ourselves or not,” he added.
Huijsen on Mourinho and his fine form
The Spaniard was quick to credit Mourinho, with whom he previously worked at Roma, for his development and current level.
“We’ve known each other for a while, even though we spent a relatively short time together in Rome. He gave me the opportunity to make the real leap into professional football, and I’ll always be grateful to him for that,” Huijsen said.
Reflecting on his own performances, the defender was in confident mood, once again pointing to the influence of his coach and teammates.
“I think I’m in good shape. Well, I think I’m delivering a good level, and I believe that’s thanks to the coach too, as he keeps track of me and takes great care of me.”
“Well, I’m also doing my very best, and I think the teammates are supporting me too, and this is the perfect equation,” he added.
Finally, Huijsen explained how he manages his recovery amid a congested schedule.
“There are a lot of matches, so we need to recover well and stay focused on football, then you have to sleep well. And yes, on the days after the match, I also take a cold shower and a hot shower to recover better,” he concluded.
