Rüdiger’s Return Supports Real Madrid in the Decisive Stage
Rüdiger, who is approaching his thirty-third year, has gone through a difficult period this season during which he suffered from two significant injuries. The first was a tear in the rectus muscle of his left thigh, which sidelined him for 15 matches, and the second was issues with his left knee, keeping him out of seven more encounters. As a result, he missed 22 out of 37 matches this season.
Despite those absences, Rüdiger returned with an impressive level of performance. Since his return, the team has conceded only one goal, which was from a penalty against Real Sociedad. He also delivered an outstanding performance in the European match against Benfica, achieving a passing accuracy of 91% and winning four direct duels, confirming his full readiness.
The numbers reflect his clear impact; he participated in 68% of the available minutes for him this season (914 out of 1350 minutes), and he has not come on as a substitute in any match, as he either starts or gets complete rest.
According to the Spanish newspaper “AS,” Dean Housen, Raul Asensio, and Rüdiger will compete for two positions for the remainder of the season, especially since Éder Militão has not yet recovered.
Rüdiger’s return is not just about recovering a player from injury, but it means regaining a leadership element that provides the backline with solidity and confidence during a crucial phase of the season.
