Real Madrid’s fragile resurgence under coach Alvaro Arbeloa shattered spectacularly on Wednesday night with a 4-2 defeat to Benfica, a result that has ignited fierce criticism towards defender Dean Huijsen.
From Bad to Worse: Huijsen Criticized After Costly Benfica Performance
The loss in Lisbon cost Madrid an automatic place in the Champions League last 16, forcing them into a playoff round.
After Kylian Mbappe’s opening goal was cancelled out, the match spiraled out of control for the Spanish giants.
Benfica seized a 3-1 lead, and despite a Mbappe penalty reducing the deficit, late red cards for Raul Asencio and Rodrygo compounded the chaos.
In a shocking finale, Benfica’s goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin headed in a corner in stoppage time to seal a humiliating night for the record-holders.
In the aftermath, furious supporters have singled out summer signing Dean Huijsen for scathing blame.
The 20-year-old Spaniard, a €59.5 million acquisition from Bournemouth, faced a torrent of abuse online following a shaky defensive performance.
One fan declared, “Huijsen is our worst defender in history, even worse than Vallejo.”
Others echoed the sentiment, with one stating, “That guy can’t defend to save his life,” and another blaming the defeat on his partnership with Asencio.
Some even defended goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois by arguing the score would have been worse without him, squarely pointing the finger at Huijsen’s display.
The outing starkly contrasts with Huijsen’s own recent comments about finally feeling fit and ready to show his best form after a difficult adaptation period.
However, his performance at the Estadio da Luz has placed his starting role in immediate jeopardy.
With a crucial La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano this weekend, pressure mounts on Arbeloa to make changes.
The defeat exposed persistent defensive issues, and dropping the heavily criticized Huijsen may be the first step in attempting to restore stability after a disastrous European night.
