Real Madrid are hyper aware of the Bayern Munich challenge says Antonio Rüdiger

Madrid – As the UEFA Champions League quarter-final draw paired Real Madrid with Bayern Munich, the white-hot spotlight immediately fell on the tie many are already calling the de facto final. Speaking exclusively to Kicker via Madrid Universal, Los Blancos centre-back Antonio Rüdiger left no doubt about the level of respect inside the Spanish dressing room: “All of us at Madrid are aware that we’ll be facing an absolutely consistent world-class team. It doesn’t get much more challenging than that.”

Bayern arrive in the last eight as Europe’s most prolific scorers, having amassed 131 goals in all competitions. Their group-stage campaign ended behind only Arsenal, the Premier League pacesetters, and Rüdiger bracketed the two sides together as “currently the most consistent and best teams in Europe.”

The Bavarian juggernaut has been fuelled by a front three of Harry Kane, Luis Diaz and Michael Olise, who have combined for 75 goals. The remaining 43 percent of Bayern’s tally has been shared across the squad, with Serge Gnabry, Lennart Karl, Nicolas Jackson and Jamal Musiala all figuring prominently, illustrating the breadth of their attacking threat.

Rüdiger, who is expected to spend much of the 180 minutes duelling directly with Kane, praised the England captain’s multifaceted game. “He attacks the goal, makes key passes, handles distribution and even throws in tackles,” the defender noted. “Harry Kane is, for me, definitely among the top three strikers in the world. We can only neutralize him as a team—if that’s even possible over 180 minutes.”

History, however, offers Bayern little comfort. Recent knockout meetings between the clubs have seen Madrid advance despite the Bundesliga side often dominating possession and chances. Once again Bayern enter the tie as marginal favourites, but the question that hovers over the tie is whether they can convert supremacy into the coveted win this time around.

Real Madrid, record 14-time champions of Europe, have built a reputation for surviving exactly this brand of seemingly lopsided contest. Rüdiger’s message was clear: Madrid know the size of the beast in front of them—and they are preparing accordingly.