Actual Madrid center-back Antonio Rudiger appears to be like ahead to a “private” battle towards Erling Haaland in Tuesday’s quarter-final matchup.
The German defender saved the Norwegian goal-scoring machine quiet in final season’s Champions League semi-final first leg. Nevertheless, with Rudiger absent, the Sky Blues curler over Los Blancos 4-nil within the second leg again on the Etihad.
Rudiger continues to be reeling from that 5-1 mixture loss final season.
Rudiger searching for to avenge final season’s UCL defeat
“It was a great sport at residence final 12 months. All of us did an amazing job by retaining Haaland quiet that night. We managed the ball properly. Haaland did not get a lot ball,” mentioned Rudiger.
“Now for this sport, the plan would be the similar as final 12 months, to attempt to management harmful gamers like Haaland. I’ll take that duel as private.”
Final 12 months’s Treble winners sit third within the Premier League this season however look extra assured than ever. Phil Foden is particularly in good kind—the winger has 21 targets and 10 assists in all competitions this season. “The Godfather of attacking midfielders in world soccer,” as Joe Cole coined Kevin De Bruyne, additionally tends to warmth up in April.
Manchester Metropolis has loads of game-changers in Bernardo Silva, Rodri and new winger Jeremy Doku, all on prime of prolific striker Erling Haaland. However so too does Madrid, bolstered by the addition of man-child Jude Bellingham and lethal Brazilian duo Rodrygo and Vini Jr.
Tuesday’s match marks the third time in consecutive seasons the 2 European heavyweights have clashed within the Champions League knockout levels. Madrid put apart Metropolis within the 2022 semi-finals, happening to win the match led by Benzema’s Ballon d’Or heroics. Metropolis simply achieved their revenge final season en path to UCL triumph.
“We performed with out braveness, with out character – braveness and character are elementary in this sort of sport, we lacked them within the second leg,” mentioned Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti in Monday’s pre-match press convention.
“By way of braveness and character, we have had time to organize for the sport, we have ready very properly, and I’m assured that we are going to give our greatest and we have got the standard to compete.”
433futbol appears to be like ahead to a different tasty one on the Bernabeu on Tuesday. Who’re you backing?
Picture: x/@iambolar