Real Madrid

Real Madrid receive huge boost as key defender returns to top form

After missing much of the campaign, Antonio Rüdiger’s impressive comeback signals a major boost for Madrid’s title ambitions.

JESUS ALVAREZ ORIHUELA

Sergio López Roddy Cons

Madrid. Update: Feb 19th, 2026 06:16 EST

Writing Antonio Rüdiger off is like writing Real Madrid off. Bold, reckless, and wrong. Approaching 33 on March 3, with early-onset arthritis and two serious injuries behind him, he’s back. And he’s playing at an outstanding level, as he proved against Benfica in the Champions League playoffs.

Rüdiger is the kind of player who defies logic, someone who refuses to fade. Raúl Asencio and Dean Huijsen now have a serious challenge to keep a starting spot. For the German defender, the injury list is a thing of the past.

Real Madrid defense locked down

Since he returned, Madrid has conceded just one goal, and it was a penalty, the one Huijsen gave away against Real Sociedad. That’s it. On his comeback night, Rüdiger completed 91% of his passes and won three duels. Almost everything came to him, though there wasn’t much to defend.

Real Madrid receive huge boost as key defender returns to top form — Rüdiger steals the ball away from Benfica's Pavlidis.JESUS ALVAREZ ORIHUELA

It was reminiscent of his performance in Lisbon: another 91% pass accuracy, the fourth highest on the team with 58 completed passes (Valverde had 60 for context), and four duels won - three on the ground, one in the air. Simply a commanding display.

Resetting confidence

First, it was about restoring confidence. Second, it was about banishing the ghosts of injuries that have plagued him all season. He suffered two major setbacks: a left quadriceps tear that sidelined him for 15 games from September to December, and left knee discomfort that kept him out of seven matches from January to mid-February.

By Valentine’s Day, he wiped the slate clean. Rüdiger had missed 22 of Madrid’s 37 matches this season due to injuries. On February 14, though, he made a statement that echoed all the way to Da Luz.

Madrid’s defensive options

Now the competition is heating up. Militão still needs time; his recovery is progressing well, but the club won’t rush him. He began light ball work at Valdebebas the day before yesterday, which raises optimism, but he won’t return until the risk of relapse is zero. A realistic timeline points to late March rather than mid-April.

Meanwhile, there are three central defenders competing for two starting spots: Huijsen, Asencio, and Rüdiger - on equal footing.

The heavyweight is here

Because Rambo has returned. He’s 100% fit and a commanding presence: he’s played 68% of minutes when he has been available, logging 914 of 1,350 total minutes. Curiously, he hasn’t come off the bench once this season, either he starts or he waits. No middle ground.

He wants to start, and he has the strength, confidence, and skill to earn it. Since his comeback, Madrid has conceded only one goal—and again, it was a penalty. Approaching 33, with early arthritis and two injuries behind him, Rüdiger is back - and at an exceptional level. The madman has been unleashed once again.