Spanish press hail Rudiger and Ancelotti after Man City clash

Spanish press hail Real Madrid despite being held to a draw by Man City in the Champions League… insisting Antonio Rudiger ‘annulled’ Erling Haaland and that Carlo Ancelotti had a ‘more effective’ plan than Pep Guardiola

  • Real Madrid were held to a draw by Man City in the first-leg of the semi-final
  • Spanish press have hyped up next week’s ‘final at the Etihad’ between the sides
  • They insisted Rudiger and Ancelotti got the better of Haaland and Guardiola 

Spanish press have hailed Real Madrid’s performance against Manchester City, despite being held to a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

The two sides will meet again next Wednesday at the Etihad to decide who reaches the Champions League final, after Vinicius Jnr’s excellent goal was cancelled out an equally impressive strike from Kevin De Bruyne last night. 

Spanish outlets have set the scene for next week’s clash, with Marca describing it as the ‘final at the Etihad’ while AS Sport ran with the headline ‘see you in Manchester’. 

While it wasn’t the perfect outcome for Carlo Ancelotti’s side to fail to take away a lead into the second-leg, Spanish press had a number of reasons to be optimistic following their performance.

There was praise for former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, in how he kept Erling Haaland quiet.

Spanish press have hailed Real Madrid’s display against Man City with Marca insisting that manager Carlo Ancelotti had the ‘more effective’ plan than counterpart Pep Guardiola

They also pointed out how Antonio Rudiger ‘annulled’ Erling Haaland and kept him quiet

AS Sport’s front cover said that ‘the Etihad will decide the finalist after an intense and even match at the Bernabeu’

The Norwegian striker who has scored 51 goals in all competitions, failed to make an impact – having one of his most quiet outings since he joined the club from Borussia Dortmund last summer.

AS Sport claimed that Rudiger ‘annulled’ Haaland while Marca also pointed out how the City striker was kept quiet by the German international.

Despite the stalemate, Marca also claimed that Ancelotti’s plan on the night was ‘more effective’ than that of his counterpart Pep Guardiola. 

They wrote: ‘Vinicius scored with Real Madrid’s first shot when City dominated the most.

‘De Bruyne equalises at the best moment for Ancelotti’s side. The Italian’s plan is more effective than Guardiola’s.’

AS Sport meanwhile stated that ‘the Etihad will decide the finalist after an intense and even match at the Bernabeu.’

They also include a quote from Ancelotti who said: ‘The result does not reward us.’

Haaland was savaged by the foreign press in their match ratings following his performance last night.

Marca declared that the second leg next Wednesday will be the ‘final at the Etihad’

De Bruyne equalised after Vinicius’ brilliant opener meaning that the sides are level at 1-1

Marca – giving him a dismal three out of ten – claimed he was ‘constantly dried up’ by Rudiger.

‘Let the [game] speak for him,’ it said. ‘At first, it scares. His first action was well stopped by Rudiger. He tested Courtois head on. In the second half he did not improve, constantly dried up by an excellent Rudiger.’

French publication L’Equipe gave him the same rating and were hardly any more forgiving. They highlighted how he lost his battle with Rudiger, his frustration with his performance and how his efforts to improve were ‘in vain’. 

They said: ‘A strike from the left that is too neutral (15th), a header that is too soft (16th). And then ? And then that’s it… Or almost. Rudiger gave him a total fight. That the Norwegian lost. 

‘He tried to dezone to participate more in the game. In vain. He gradually grew frustrated. His only attempt of the second period is countered (55th). 

‘The people of Madrid have managed to completely cut off his technical relationship with De Bruyne. He owes a revenge in the second leg.’ 

 On the other hand, the French publication handed Rudiger a seven out of ten for his efforts in thwarting Haaland, saying he ‘extinguished’ the dangerous forward.


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