Real Madrid have welcomed defender Dean Huijsen back into their matchday squad for the UEFA Champions League fixture against Roma, while the team traveled to the Italian capital without four players who are continuing various stages of recovery.
Huijsen returns after missing the victory over Villarreal due to domestic suspension, providing manager José Mourinho with an additional defensive option alongside Ibrahima Konaté and Antonio Rüdiger.
The absentees include Eder Militão, Raúl Asencio, Ferland Mendy, and Rodrygo. While Militão is participating in group training, Mourinho confirmed that he still needs weeks to regain match fitness and will not feature against Roma or Sevilla.
Asencio continues his recovery following surgery for a hairline fracture in his right leg, whereas Rodrygo is sidelined with an ACL tear and external meniscus damage in his right knee, with neither player expected to return before late December or early January. Mendy has returned to partial group training, but requires additional time and is not registered in the Champions League squad.
The traveling squad includes Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, and Sergio Mestre in goal. The defensive department features Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Cucurella, Álvaro Carreras, Rüdiger, and Denzel Dumfries.
Midfield options comprise Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Fede Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Arda Güler, Bernardo Silva, and Thiago Pitarch, while the attacking lineup includes Vinícius Júnior, Endrick, Kylian Mbappé, Carlos Espí, Brahim Díaz, and Yann Diomandé.
Vinícius’s presence carries special significance after he started on the bench against Villarreal, though his domestic suspension does not impact his availability in Europe.
Real Madrid are set to face Roma on Wednesday evening, October 14, marking an emotional return for Mourinho to the stadium where he triumphed with the Italian side in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
