Real Madrid out-of-favour star may get a surprise opportunity vs Villarreal – report

Real Madrid out-of-favour star may get a surprise opportunity vs Villarreal – report Real Madrid have already had a dodgy time with the international break so far, with Ibrahima Konate having to return to Madrid after picking up a knock, while Kylian Mbappe picked up an injury. Fortunately for Real Madrid, their injuries do not seem serious enough, with Konate, for one, expected to be available for the Villarreal game when the season resumes. Given the limited options in defence, though, Jose Mourinho would be wary of taking risks with Konate’s fitness, knowing that Eder Militao is also currently unavailable due to injury. A potential opportunity for Raul Asencio? According to AS , Raul Asencio could emerge as an unlikely winner during the international break and due to Real Madrid’s lack of depth in defence. Raul Asencio has been on the fringes this season. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images) In fact, the fringe defender could be poised for some game time against Villarreal, especially if Mourinho doesn’t risk playing Konate. And should Konate not play, Mourinho has no other alternatives as Dean Huijsen has been handed a one-match suspension following his red card against Atletico Madrid. That leaves Asencio as the only available centre-back option, who can feature alongside Antonio Rudiger at the heart of Mourinho’s four-man backline. The Canary Islander has already been named in three matchday squads this season but is yet to feature, so the Villarreal clash could finally hand him his first minutes of the campaign. A great chance for Asencio Raul Asencio is yet to feature in a single game. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) With everyone fully fit, Asencio is understood to be Mourinho’s fifth-choice centre-back, behind Konate, Rudiger, Huijsen and Militao. That pecking order explains why he found himself on the fringes heading into the season, particularly following the summer arrival of Konate to bolster an area Real Madrid had already strengthened with Huijsen. However, circumstances may now conspire to hand Asencio a rare opportunity. Mourinho has previously praised the defender’s work ethic in training, and a run of injuries and suspensions could open the door for him to stake a claim. For Asencio, it represents a golden chance to change the manager’s opinion and prove he can be a reliable option when called upon. Whether that opportunity arrives against Villarreal on October 10 remains to be seen, but with Real Madrid’s defensive resources stretched, everything suggests the Canary Islander may finally get his moment.