If Real Madrid want to exact revenge on Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals, they will need to end Rodri’s impressive 64-match unbeaten run for club and country. The 27-year-old last tasted defeat on March 28, 2023, when Spain lost to Scotland in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. After that, he scored the winning goal in the Champions League final, helping Manchester City win the Premier League, FA Cup, and European Super League titles. Cup and Club World Cup, and led his country to Nations League glory.
He is often hailed as the best midfielder in the world by Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola, and even a team with world-class stars cannot do without him.
The English champions have endured long-term injury absences for Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne this season.
However, Rodri has missed all of City’s four defeats in all competitions this season through suspension.
Likewise, Spain’s only defeat since facing Scotland at Hampden Park a year ago came in a friendly against Colombia last month, when he played the full 90 minutes on the bench.
Rodri also has fond memories of his time at the Santiago Bernabeu recently, scoring twice in Spain’s 3-3 draw with Brazil two weeks ago.
“Rodri is the best,” Guardiola said after scoring his eighth goal of the season against Aston Villa last week.
“He’s the best in his position, so he can do everything. His quality, his ability to read the game, his mentality, he’s always ready.”
“He’s good at a lot of things…his presence, his physicality, he’s complete.”
Real Madrid rightfully thought they had overtaken the Premier League’s financial giants by luring Jude Bellingham to the Santiago Bernabeu last summer rather than returning to his homeland.
But City are equally smug at snatching Madrid-born Rodri from under their noses.
After breaking through at Villarreal, he lasted just one season at Atletico Madrid before Manchester City triggered his release clause in a £62 million ($78 million) move in 2019.
Whoever wins the head-to-head clash between Bellingham and Rodri will go a long way in deciding the third meeting between the Spanish and English giants in the past three seasons.
Two years ago, Real Madrid launched a brilliant fightback en route to a 14th European Cup after Manchester City missed a chance in injury time at the Santiago Bernabeu with a two-goal lead ahead.
Twelve months later, Guardiola’s side got revenge in another semi-final, beating Madrid 4-0 at home in what was arguably the high point of the former Barcelona boss’ eight years in charge of Manchester.
Rodri believes City’s home advantage in the second leg, which is unbeaten in the Champions League since 2018, could be the deciding factor in the tie.
“We know each other very well. Last year’s experience was very good for us,” Rodri said after the draw.
“We know it’s going to be very difficult to qualify again, but to be honest I think the draw is in our favor because the second leg is at home.”
This confidence comes from a man who is not used to losing, and without him City could not cope.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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