Real Madrid adapts to Champions League needs: Shock and awe one week, armadillo defense the next

Real Madrid players celebrate after wining the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Real Madrid ’s Antonio Rudiger scores the winning penalty during the penalty shootout against Manchester City following the Champions League quarterfinal, second leg soccer match at the Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, England, Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

City completely dominated the ball in the away leg of their quarterfinal in Manchester – even though it never led and needed Kevin De Bruyne to cancel out Rodrygo’s opener – and hemmed mighty Madrid into its box for most of the match and extra time. Last season, when City beat Madrid in the semifinal on its way to winning the title, Rudiger was left on the bench at the start of aDe Bruyne’s equalizer came after Rudiger’s only blemish of an otherwise superb outing when the City midfielder fired in a ball the defender failed to clear. Otherwise, Rudiger bossed the area and again kept Erling Haaland scoreless.

The Ukrainian goalkeeper entered the preseason as the backup to the injured Courtois Thibaut and had to earn the starting job after Kepa Arrizabalaga’s arrival. Lunin was the team’s saviour on Wednesday night after stopping penalties by Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic. His saves tilted the shootout in Madrid’s favor after Luka Modric missed their first kick.

Guardiola praised his team’s effort and recognized that to best Madrid, which also knocked his team out two years ago when“To beat Real Madrid, we had to perform our best,” the Catalan coach said. “We were our best but it was not enough.”

Madrid Real Madrid Antonio Rudiger Manchester City FC Sports - Europe Sports Rodrygo Carlo Ancelotti Paris Saint-Germain FC Pep Guardiola S FC Barcelona Kevin De Bruyne

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