MADRID, 16 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The first leg of the Champions League semifinal between Real Madrid and Manchester City was marked by the duel Rüdiger-Haaland in which the German central defender emerged victorious, drying up the Norwegian striker in attack, who hardly had any chances.
Antonio Rüdiger arrived at Real Madrid this summer with the vitola of being one of the best central defenders in the world. However, the German’s performance in the first part of the season was not meeting expectations. But the decisive stretch of the course has arrived and Rüdiger has raised his level to the point of being Ancelotti’s best weapon to stop the best striker of the year, Erling Haaland.
The European champion with Chelsea is an experienced central defender in this type of duel. In addition, his numbers in all competitions this season support it. Faced with an opponent as uncomfortable in getting the ball out as City is, Rüdiger is a sure thing. The German is the defender of Real Madrid with best percentage of success in passes (92%), even better numbers than Alaba (90%), a priori, the best defender in this aspect of the team.
But if the game of the Teutonic international stands out for something, it is because of his physique. He is one of the few central defenders in the world capable of matching a striker like Haaland in this regard. For this reason, Rüdiger is the defender of Real Madrid with highest percentage of duels won, prevailing at 64% of them, raising their effectiveness in the aerial game, where the percentage rises to 66%. In addition, before the lateral centers that can arrive looking for the height of Haaland, the German center-back is a good antidote. He is the second Real Madrid player with Most clearances this season (101) only behind Militao.
The recovery numbers for the Berlin-born defender are brilliant. Throughout the 48 games in which he has been in the game, has stolen 233 balls. A section that speaks highly of the German’s reading of the game when it comes to getting ahead of the rival and his tactical reading to cut passing lanes.
Some conditions and some data that point to Antonio Rüdiger as the best defender, within the white fan, to stop the top European scorer of the season, Erling Haaland.