Real Madrid secured a ticket to the next round of the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk thanks to last-minute hero Antonio Rudiger. But the DFB defender has to pay dearly for his equalizer. He’s losing a “lot of blood” from a “long” laceration to his head.
Antonio Rüdiger’s debut goal for Real Madrid in the Champions League was important – and very painful. His face and white shirt were covered in blood as the Germany international was escorted off after his fifth-minute stoppage-time equalizer against Shakhtar Donetsk in Warsaw. A supervisor pressed a cloth on Rüdiger’s forehead to stop the heavy bleeding. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” the 29-year-old wrote on Instagram after midnight, reassuring fans: “I’m okay. Thanks for all your messages.”
What happened? After a long cross from former world champion Toni Kroos, Rüdiger, who had moved up, clashed with Donetsk keeper Anatolij Trubin when he headed the ball. Their heads banged violently, both players seemed dazed at first. While Rüdiger got back on his feet relatively quickly, Trubin was treated lying on the grass for minutes. The wound was later sewn up with 20 stitches.
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed afterwards that Rüdiger’s injury was a “rather long” laceration. “He wanted to get back on the pitch, but then he realized he was injured,” said the Italian, who gave the all-clear: “I think it’s nothing serious.” Template provider Kroos didn’t really want to look at the injury, “I’ve seen nicer pictures in my life,” he said, “it’s a lot of blood, I hope he comes back quickly.”
At least Rüdiger’s commitment was worth it: The defending champions qualified early for the round of 16 in the premier class thanks to the late equalizer and prevented an embarrassing defeat shortly before the important Clásico on Sunday at home to arch-rivals FC Barcelona.
