The most recent match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in a tie, which had several narratives. Some, such as Brahim Diaz’s dream performance and the team’s dominance on the field, left a pleasant taste in the mouth, while others, such as the troubles in defense and the ultimate outcome, did not leave as much of an impression.
However, Antonio Rudiger’s fervent desire to take part in the event was one of the more emotionally moving narratives that transpired during the evening.
The international player from Germany was fighting against the clock to recover from the injury he sustained to his thigh, but in the end, he was unable to make it in time to play against Los Blancos.
Anything that he is capable of doing
According to allegations that were obtained from Mario Cortegana via The Athletic, Rudiger was doing everything in his power to guarantee that he would be able to compete in the major matchup. Unfortunately, his body was unable to recover in time, depriving him of the opportunity to participate in the night and assist the squad in defense. He was really eager to do so.
Although the Spanish journalist reveals that his injury continues to cause him a great deal of agony, Rudiger was prepared to fight through the discomfort in order to put on the jersey on the night in question. As a matter of fact, he really showed up to the club facilities at an early hour in the morning in order to undergo examinations and reevaluate the severity of his ailment.
However, in the end, Ancelotti came to the conclusion that it would be more beneficial to keep the great defender on the bench. Given the current state of Real Madrid’s defensive situation, his long-term health is the most important thing to focus on.
A hero who comes to the rescue
The first-choice backup center-back for Carlo Ancelotti was also unavailable for the match against Atletico Madrid because Aurelien Tchouameni was being suspended.
Therefore, the only choice he had was to start a full-back in central defense and compensate on the wing with an alternative name. These were the only options available to him.
Despite the fact that there was a lot of anticipation that Ferland Mendy would be joining Nacho Fernandez in defense, Dani Carvajal was given the starting position at center back for the evening. The position of right back was taken up by Lucas Vazquez, while Mendy filled in for him at left back.
The makeshift central defender was a significant contributor to Real Madrid’s resolute defensive performance on the evening, even surpassing Nacho in terms of his performance in the position. The squad was ultimately obliged to split the points and suffer a setback to their place in the league as a result of a last-minute equalizer.