Madrid: Real Madrid visit Manchester City on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and striker Rodrigo Goes could hold the key to success.
Rodrygo scored twice against Manchester City in 2022 to help Madrid beat the English side in the derby and was on target again in last week’s 3-3 quarter-final draw.
While Brazilian compatriot and strike partner Vinicius Junior and England international Jude Bellingham caught the eye, Rodrygo flew under the radar.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti deployed Rodrigo on the left side of the attack in the first leg, a position rarely used, often on the opposite side.
The striker put his side 2-1 up after 14 minutes when he darted into space down the wing, his shot deflected off Manuel Akanji and past Stefan Ortega.
The content of playing wherever and whenever the coach sees fit is a versatile weapon for Rodrigo Ancelotti.
“They didn’t think I was on the left, we did it differently today and it was good,” said Rodrigo after the thriller at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“We have to win there, that’s clear – whoever makes the least mistakes will go through.”
Madrid played a few games at City last season, losing 4-0 in the semi-final second leg which saw Pep Guardiola’s side 5-1 on aggregate.
Rodrygo has a great presence on the ball, is quick, and dances around defenders, his movements make him difficult to track.
Madrid will threaten Manchester City on the counterattack at the Etihad Stadium and are one of their best tools in transition.
Ancelotti kept faith with Rodrigo during his drought this season.
After failing to find the net in 11 games between August and October, he went on to score eight goals in the next eight games.
“For Rodrigo, I will not talk to him about goals, I will never talk about goals.”
Despite pulling out Madrid’s first trophy last season and getting revenge, Rodrigo’s stunning late performances in 2022 have kept City fans afloat.
The Brazilian scored in the 90th and 91st minutes of the second leg of the semi-final as City sought a place in the final in Paris.
Karim Benzema’s penalty helped Madrid lead his side against relegated City as Los Blancos lifted the trophy for a record 14th time.
At the age of 23, Rodrygo has won every trophy possible in club football.
The Copa del Rey was one of Madrid’s toughest competitions in a decade, but Rodrigo’s brace helped them beat Osasuna 2-1 to lift the trophy in 2023.
It was Madrid’s first trophy since 2014 and Rodrigo’s fastest goal in a Copa del Rey final for 17 years.
In last season’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Chelsea, Rodrygo secured a 2-0 win over Madrid at Stamford Bridge.
This crucial move makes Rodrigo key for Madrid in the big time and raises questions about how the team will shape up if they sign Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
Many expected Rodrigo to be the player to lose his place – but Madrid will cross the bridge as they arrive hoping to win a record-extending 15th Champions League trophy.
