After Militao’s absence, the German has become one of Real Madrid’s top defenders

Rüdiger versus Unión Berlin in a duel

The obstacle Antonio Rüdiger had faced (and still faces) was not a simple one. After Eder Militao’s left knee’s cruciate ligament was torn, the German arrived on the scene. His challenging task this season would be to keep the Brazilian center back from remembering him.

The former Chelsea player intermittently left positive impressions during the previous season. In the first leg of the Champions League semifinals, he was able to “dry” Haaland. But this time, he was up against an even bigger obstacle. He is required to perform at that level in all games and consistently throughout the day. And thus far, he is performing admirably.

Statistics of Rüdiger vs Union Berlin

The numbers provide as evidence for this. The German made 3 clearances, blocked a shot, and intercepted a ball while winning 7 of the 8 duels he engaged in (six of which were aerial). He also finished the game with a 90% passing success rate and a 2 out of 2 long movement success rate. In other words, a genuine defensive effort that contributes to the white team’s perfect record.

Defense insurance

But for the Madrid central defender, this meeting was just another day at the office and not an exception. Rüdiguer quickly stepped in to fill Militao’s shoes after his death, cementing himself as the white defense’s backup plan. He wins 5.2 duels a game on average this season, and he recovers 2.2 times.

Atlético de Madrid will be their opponent at the Civitas Metropolitano this weekend in a true test of their mettle. Real Madrid will attempt to extend its winning streak and secure its sixth straight victory. He will hire Antonio Rüdiger, who is in excellent form, to help him with this.