Real Madrid is once again in the fight for the glory of the Champions League, with a favorable result after their comeback at the Etihad Stadium. A key factor in the defense will be the presence of Antonio Rüdiger, who has recovered from his recent injury and is preparing to be, once again, Erling Haaland's greatest nightmare, the unstoppable Norwegian goal scorer of Manchester City.

The first duel between Rüdiger and Haaland

Since his arrival at Real Madrid in the 2022/23 season, Rüdiger has proven to be a key defender in the team’s backline. His first direct confrontation with Haaland took place that same year when the German center-back, who had joined from Chelsea, met the Norwegian forward, recently signed by City. Despite being a regular substitute for Éder Militão, Rüdiger shocked the world by neutralizing Haaland in their first encounter, when the Brazilian couldn’t play due to suspension.

The duel between Rüdiger and Haaland didn’t end there. Although the German defender’s standout performance at the Santiago Bernabéu wasn’t enough to earn him a starting spot in the second match under Carlo Ancelotti, the reality was that, in the return leg, Manchester City thrashed Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium, which allowed them to reach the Champions League final. Despite the loss, Rüdiger's performance that season was notable, and in the following seasons, the German assumed the role of leader in the defense.

The return of Rüdiger and his dominance in defense

Last season, with the injuries to Militão and Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger solidified his position as the cornerstone of Real Madrid’s defense, playing a crucial role in securing the team’s latest Champions League trophy. He also faced Haaland again in the quarterfinals, being a real nightmare for the Manchester City goal scorer. In that match, Rüdiger also shone by scoring the decisive penalty that allowed Madrid to progress in the competition and continue their journey toward winning the European trophy.

This year, history is repeating itself. Rüdiger was absent from the first matchup against Manchester City, allowing Haaland to score two goals and move closer to the historic 50-goal mark in the Champions League. However, the German defender is ready to stop Haaland and ensure that Real Madrid advances to the next round. The rivalry between these two players promises to be one of the major attractions of this season’s Champions League, with Rüdiger in top form to prevent Haaland from continuing his scoring streak.