Dean Huijsen made a strong statement in his La Liga debut for Real Madrid in the 2025/2026 season opener. The young center-back stood out especially with his pinpoint long passes.
Huijsen played the full 90 minutes as Real Madrid edged out Osasuna 1-0 in their first match of the season. He earned the highest rating on SofaScore with an impressive 8.5.
According to Tribuna, Huijsen put in a solid defensive shift recording seven clearances, one interception, and two tackles.
But it wasn’t just his defensive game that caught attention. The 20 year old also impressed with his distribution, particularly his long balls.
Huijsen completed 16 out of 17 attempted long passes an elite stat that places him among just 10 center-backs in La Liga history to successfully make at least 15 long passes in a single match.
For context, the last Real Madrid defender to hit such numbers was Sergio Ramos, who completed 15 of 17 long balls against Leganés back in 2018.
Under Xabi Alonso’s tactical system, Huijsen could emerge as a key figure in transitioning play from the back. A product of Juventus' youth academy, it'll be exciting to see if he can maintain this level of performance throughout the season.
