José Mourinho used his first La Liga line-up since returning to Real Madrid to make a significant decision at the heart of his defence.

Konaté started alongside Dean Huijsen during the 2-1 victory over Espanyol on August 22. Rüdiger remained on the bench throughout the match.

The selection was particularly striking because Konaté had played only 45 minutes during pre-season and had officially been presented as a Real Madrid player two days earlier.

Konaté immediately moves ahead

Real Madrid signed the French international after the expiry of his Liverpool contract. He agreed a four-year deal running until June 2030.

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Konaté arrived with considerable experience. Liverpool confirmed that he left after 183 appearances, seven goals and five seasons at Anfield.

The 27-year-old also won the Premier League, FA Cup and two League Cups during his time in England. Before Liverpool, he spent four years developing at RB Leipzig.

Mourinho nevertheless took a risk by placing him directly into the starting line-up. Rüdiger was fit enough to be named among the substitutes but was never introduced.

One match cannot establish a permanent hierarchy. It did, however, provide the first indication that Konaté may already be ahead of the experienced German.

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The numbers explain the attraction

Konaté completed all 90 minutes and was heavily involved in Madrid’s build-up. The defender attempted 75 passes and completed 73, an accuracy rate above 97 per cent.

He also won eight of his 11 duels, recovered the ball five times and registered a header on target. His physical strength became especially useful when Espanyol played directly towards Roberto Fernández.

AS described his performance as a combination of positive qualities and warning signs. The newspaper highlighted his passing, aerial strength and large number of interventions.

Mourinho wants centre-backs who can defend large spaces while beginning attacks under pressure. Konaté demonstrated that he can fulfil both requirements.

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His speed also allows Madrid to maintain a higher defensive line. That quality could prove important when Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé and the attacking midfielders push forward together.

Espanyol found the weakness

The debut was not flawless. Espanyol equalised after half an hour when Javi Hernández reached the left side and pulled the ball back for Álex Calatrava.

AS criticised Konaté’s positioning during the move, arguing that it allowed Calatrava to enter a dangerous area without sufficient pressure.

The Frenchman occasionally appeared too confident in possession and made several defensive decisions that a more coordinated partnership might have avoided.

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That is hardly surprising. Konaté had spent limited time training with Huijsen, while several of Madrid’s new signings were still learning Mourinho’s defensive demands.

Madrid ultimately escaped with three points when substitute Carlos Espí scored in the 90th minute. The official match report confirmed that Konaté was one of three new signings in the starting line-up.

Rüdiger still has a route back

Rüdiger’s place on the bench does not mean that his Real Madrid career is over. The German remains one of the squad’s most experienced defenders and offers aggression, leadership and knowledge of La Liga.

Mourinho may also rotate his centre-backs depending on the opponent, physical condition and European schedule. Konaté must demonstrate that his strong passing statistics can be combined with greater positional discipline.

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The Frenchman has already made his ambition clear. During his first Real Madrid interview, he said: “I promise to give my all for this jersey.”

A second consecutive start would strengthen the belief that Mourinho has changed the hierarchy. For now, Konaté has won the opening round, but the competition is only beginning.