Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger expressed his excitement about the upcoming Champions League round-of-16 match against Manchester City, stating it’s “a pleasure” to face Erling Haaland. Rüdiger successfully kept the star forward in check during the first leg at the Bernabéu, where Haaland had merely 10 touches and no shots before being substituted in the 82nd minute, as City suffered a 3-0 defeat, highlighted by a hat trick from Federico Valverde.
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While Haaland has had challenging encounters with Madrid, failing to score in their meetings in 2023 and 2024, he did net twice during City’s 3-2 defeat to Madrid in February 2025 and converted a penalty in this season’s league game, which City won 2-1.
“I don’t focus too much on statistics,” Rüdiger mentioned during a press conference in Manchester on Monday. “In the group stage match, [Haaland] got the better of me… Playing against world-class players like Erling Haaland is enjoyable, and I relish the physical challenge.”
“Having faced him numerous times, I can say he’s a top player,” Rüdiger added. “I enjoy these types of duels, and it’s fantastic to compete against him. He comes off as a good guy, too.”
Rüdiger’s assertive playing style has faced scrutiny in Spain, especially following an incident with Getafe‘s Diego Rico, where Rüdiger’s knee accidentally caught Rico in the face during a challenge earlier this month.
“When you view the footage in slow motion, it does look bad,” Rüdiger admitted. “But he claimed I nearly harmed him; he didn’t need to exaggerate. If I intended to injure him, he wouldn’t have gotten back up… It was never my goal to hurt anyone.”
“I like to play tough, but I know my limits. I believe he overstated his case a bit,” Rüdiger added.
Despite struggling with injuries this season, making only 11 LaLiga appearances and four in the Champions League so far, Rüdiger is now playing regularly, with his contract at Madrid set to expire this summer.
“The most crucial aspect for me is my health,” Rüdiger said. “Currently, I feel great. As for everything else, I’m confident we’ll handle it. It’s not the priority at this moment. I enjoy my time here and feel respected by everyone. However, decisions mustn’t be made solely based on emotions… I’m fit now, and I have a strong affinity for Real Madrid. I love this club.”