Real Madrid’s one crucial weapon to stop Erling Haaland-led Manchester City | OneFootball

Currently leading La Liga by eight points over Barcelona, Real Madrid are confident about ending their season on a high and adding to their 2023/24 collection which already has the Spanish Super Cup.

They are also alive in the Champions League, pitched up against defending champions Manchester City in the quarter-finals.

The first leg of the game is set to take place on 9th April at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the return leg at the Etihad a week later.

These two sides have met on multiple occasions in recent years, including last season in the semi-finals of last year’s competition where City came out on top 5-1, with Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne coming up clutch across both legs.

Madrid will be hoping to get the better of City on this occasion, though, and reach the summit of their favourite competition once again, and will heavily rely on one player in particular.

Spotlight on Antonio Rudiger

While City have a ton of top players in their side, including Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Phil Foden – who is in top form -, there will be a lot of focus on Erling Haaland, especially.

The Norwegian was the top-scorer last season across all competitions, netting 51 goals across their treble run in the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup.

He has not quite matched those numbers this season, but will definitely be one of the decisive players regardless.

With Eder Militao and David Alaba both sidelined with ACL tears, Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping Antonio Rudiger can come in clutch for Madrid.

Rudiger is coming off an impressive performance against Kylian Mbappe during France vs Germany, albeit in a friendly.

Mammoth. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)

He participated all 90 minutes during the game, and was only dribbled past once against a forward line that consisted of Mbappe, Marcus Thuram, Ousmane Dembele, and then later in the game been Randal Kolo Muani.

This 90-minute performance also included six clearances and only six lost possessions – all coming through misplaced long passes.

Support from midfield

Real Madrid did keep Haaland quiet last season, as well, across both legs, but were unable to hold back the rest of the Manchester City side, which will be quite a problem this season as well.

This is why Ancelotti will have to set up his midfield in a way where they do not get drowned in City’s flood of 1,000 passes before losing focus.

The more energetic, and defensive capable midfielders in the team such as Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Federico Valverde will be important.

Jude Bellingham will also have to play a key role, especially lending himself to deeper positions to help his team find a way past the City press.

With Foden in excellent form, as well, and expected to start on the left-wing for City, Daniel Carvajal becomes a very crucial part of this setup.

Ancelotti will be hoping he can replicate his performance against Liverpool in the 2022 final when he kept Andrew Robertson and Sadio Mane quiet through 90 minutes.

Regardless, it is unquestionably the most exciting fixture of the four in the quarter-finals of the competition, with no real favourite.