Surprise Real Madrid player joins Mbappé and Haaland among Champions League’s fastest

Raúl Asencio has quickly become a key figure in Real Madrid’s defense. The academy graduate made his LaLiga debut on November 9 and immediately showed that he would seize any opportunity given to him.

The 22-year-old made his first Champions League appearance a few days later against Liverpool at Anfield, a challenging yet iconic venue, where he showcased his capabilities. His personality and his defensive prowess have reminded more than one Madrid supporter of long-time, fan favorite center-back Sergio Ramos.

Raúl Asencio sets record in Atlético UCL clash

On Wednesday, in the second leg of the Round of 16 against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano, Asencio again impressed, his defensive focus leading to another solid and commanding performance.

Not only that, he even set a record when playing a crucial role in stopping a dangerous Atlético counterattack. Asencio’s sprint reached 22.2 mph (35.8 km/h), making it the fastest by a center-back in the Champions League this season and the eighth fastest of any player overall.

Who are the fastest players in the 2024/25 Champions League?

Asencio joins Erling Haaland and teammate Kylian Mbappé among the fastest players in the competition. The Norwegian striker tops the list with a speed of 22.7 mph (36.6 km/h), closely followed by PSG full-back Achraf Hakimi (22.7 mph) and Mbappé (22.6 mph). Just behind Asencio in the top 10 is one of his opponents in the Round of 16, Giuliano Simeone, who reached 22.2 mph (35.7 km/h).

Original article written by Lucía Ropero, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Roddy Cons.

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