Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger is looking forward to another challenge against Manchester City striker Erling Haaland when both sides meet in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.
The record European champions hold a three-goal advantage from the first leg in the tie and will be looking to book their spot in the quarterfinals of the competition.
Rudiger enjoyed an impressive performance in the first leg win, keeping Haaland quiet and limiting the Norwegian to just 10 touches of the ball in a subdued performance.
“I don’t think too deeply about things like statistics”, Rudiger said during the pre-match press conference.
“In the game in the group stage, [Haaland] got the better of me… With players like Erling Haaland, it’s a huge pleasure to play against them. I like the physical battle.
“I’ve faced him a lot, and he’s a top player, I like these kinds of duels…I find it fantastic to play against him. And he seems like a good guy.”
Federico Valverde scored a stunning hat-trick for Real Madrid as they eased to victory in the first leg and will be hoping to finish the job in the return leg tonight.
Meanwhile, Rudiger also waved off uncertainty over his future, with his current contract at the Spanish giants set to expire at the end of the season.
For me, the most important thing is that I’m healthy”, Rudiger added.
“Right now, I feel great. As for all the rest, I’m very sure we’ll solve it. It’s not important right now. We don’t have to think about it.
“I feel great here, I feel the respect of the people. But you have to make decisions not based only on emotions… I’m fit now, and I like Real Madrid. I love Real Madrid”, the German defender continued.
The winner of the Round of 16 clash will face Bayern Munich or Atalanta in the last eight, with the German champions holding an almost unassailable 6-1 advantage from the first leg.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
