New Delhi: Real Madrid narrowly avoided their first defeat of the season and qualified for the next stage of the Champions League with a stoppage-time equalizer making the score 1-1. Madrid have gone 12 games without defeat in all competitions and just as Shakhtar thought they had won Rudiger equalized in the 95th minute.
Los Blancos’ hopes of coasting to the knock-out stages looked set to take a stoppage as Shakhtar led for more than 45 minutes. However, Antonio Rudiger scored a dramatic late equalizer, picking up a nasty blow to his face in the process.
Antonio Rudiger faces big blow in UEFA Champions League
For much of the game, Madrid were far from their best but their mounting pressure told in the second half with the former Chelsea defender being used as a part-time striker to force a result. That tactic got results and it means they will play Champions League knockout football once again in the new year.
Antonio Rudiger has reassured fans he is okay after worrying pictures of the defender covered in blood emerged after he scored for Real Madrid.
| Rudiger’s blood formed a heart next to the badge. pic.twitter.com/Vu2FGXgx0B
— real madrid news (@_334halamadrid) October 11, 2022
In a tweet, Rudiger told he was okay by saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I am okay – thanks for all your messages.” He also uploaded an Instagram story saying “We alive” with a picture of his bandaged face and eye.
Eden Hazard passed up another golden opportunity to stamp his authority on the starting XI. He struggled to have any influence on the game and was replaced just before the hour mark by Vinicius Junior who was initially handed a rest ahead of El Clasico.
Ancelotti and his players will have had an eye on Sunday’s El Clasico in the build-up to the trip to Warsaw. Having won their opening three games in the Champions League, the clash against Barcelona is definitely a more important fixture.
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