Real Madrid vs Man City: Look away Chelsea fans, this is what you're missing!

Antonio Rudiger and Erling Haaland had an interesting encounter at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night.

Real Madrid vs Man City: Look away Chelsea fans, this is what you're missing!

Izuchukwu Akawor 12:28 - 10.05.2023

Former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger was a menace to Erling Haaland throughout the Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has received praise after the job he did on Erling Haaland during their clash in the Champions League.

Rudiger had an excellent outing against the giant Haaland, who looked frustrated throughout the Champions League semifinal first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night.

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The German international spent the duration of the entertaining encounter annoying Haaland as City held Real Madrid to a share of the spoils.

Vinicius Junior and Kevin de Bruyne were the scorers on the night as English champions City came from behind to avoid a defeat.

Rudiger vs Haaland battle steals show

While both Madrid and City produced a performance of quality in the game, there was a more interesting clash between two of their players.

Rudiger and Haaland served the highlight of the evening in what was a masterclass in man-marking from the former Chelsea man.

Real Madrid vs Man City
Rudiger frustrated Haaland throughout the night.

Haaland has taken England by storm this season, shattering goals record after a remarkable debut campaign that has seen him score 51 goals in all competitions so far for the Cityzens.

However, against Real Madrid, the 22-year-old Norwegian striker got more than he bargained against Rudiger who annoyed and frustrated him for 90 minutes.

UCL: Real Madrid vs Man City
Haaland celebrates with a Man City teammate.

The former Chelsea man showed his former employers, the Blues, what they are missing with a performance of authority and quality that saw Haaland limited to just 12 passes and 2 shots all game.

Rudiger receives praise

Former Manchester United Rio Ferdinand
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes Rudiger showed PL teams how to handle Haaland.

A video trended on social media showing the German glued to Haaland in a superb display of man-marking and dark arts.

In the end, both players appreciated and respected each other with Rudiger getting high praise from Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand.

Champions League
There was mutual respect between Haaland and Rudiger in the end.

Speaking on the performance, the Premier League Hall of Famer noted that Rudiger has shown teams in England how to defend against the City forward.

'’That's what we've been saying about Haaland in the Premier League,” Ferdinand said according to Daily Mail.

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“Who's been willing to take him and have a one-versus-one battle and be confident the way Rudiger was today?

‘'He was excellent and clever as well at times. He made one great block in the second half. I think you've got to be aggressive with Haaland.

'’I still don't think they nullified him completely but I thought today that's the best I've seen a centre-back pairing play him.’'

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