Real Madrid News
Real Madrid icon backs team for comeback vs Bayern Munich – ‘They are capable of anything’
On Wednesday, Real Madrid take on Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in what could be a season-defining fixture for the team.
With the La Liga title seemingly out of reach, the UEFA Champions League remains the only avenue for Los Blancos to win a trophy.
However, they are not in a favourable position currently, after losing the first leg of their quarter-final tie 1-2 against Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The fact that the Bavarians have been absolutely dominant at home makes things even more challenging for Alvaro Arbeloa & co.
Lucas Vazquez backs Real Madrid to mount a comeback
However, former Real Madrid defender and club legend Lucas Vazquez sees a comeback for the Merengues as very much possible, echoing his ex-teammate Toni Kroos’ opinion.
When asked about Real Madrid’s chances in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals during an interview on Radio Nacional de Espana (h/t Mundo Deportivo), he said:
“Madrid are capable of anything.”
Highlighting how Los Blancos ended the first leg strongly, Vazquez stated that the game could have easily finished 2-2 and that they are capable of pulling off a victory in Munich.
“We saw it in the first leg at the Bernabeu, Bayern played a great game, but nobody would have been surprised if it had ended 2-2,” the current Bayer Leverkusen ace remarked.
Continuing, he pointed out: “Madrid will have their chances in Munich. They’ll have their opportunities, they’ll try to take them, and from there they’ll have to withstand a Bayern side that has been putting on spectacular performances at home this season.
“They’re very reliable, but Madrid are always Madrid,” Vazquez concluded.
Real Madrid opted to renew Antonio Rudiger’s contract this past summer to keep him at the club for one more season.
The 33-year-old veteran defender, though, has not been performing at his best, with physical problems taking their toll and age starting to catch up with him.
As such, the expectation is that Los Blancos will not extend his contract again when his current one expires on 30 June 2027.
Tottenham eye Antonio Rudiger
And, according to reports relayed by AS, Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a free-transfer swoop to sign Rudiger in the summer of next year.
The north London club are understood to be keen on reinforcing their backline next year and see the German defender as an option, given his experience in the Premier League and the fact that he would be available for free in the summer.
So far this season, Rudiger has played only five games for Real Madrid, amounting to a total of 396 minutes.
The 33-year-old has even chipped in with two goals, including the all-important winner in the 4-3 comeback victory over AS Roma on Wednesday night.
Time to move on?
Despite Rudiger being a hugely respected figure in the Real Madrid locker room, he is currently the third-choice centre-back for Jose Mourinho.
After all, summer signing Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen have been preferred by the manager so far in the new season.
Moreover, with Eder Militao set to return imminently after a lengthy injury layoff, Rudiger’s game-time could be impacted further.
Given the situation and factoring in Real Madrid’s plans to sign another centre-back next summer, it is pretty much evident that Rudiger does not feature in the club’s plans for beyond this season.
As such, a separation of ways seems pretty likely when his contract expires, and Tottenham are now positioning themselves as early suitors to sign Rudiger as a free agent in 2027.
