Antonio Rudiger scored the winning penalty for Real Madrid against Manchester City on Wednesday, sending his team to the Champions League semi-finals.
What happened?
Rudiger's strong defensive display helped Madrid hold their own across 210 minutes of thrilling quarter-final action, ending in a 4-4 aggregate draw before the shoot-out.
The German defender kept Erling Haaland quiet, stopping him from adding to his 31 goals across all competitions.
After Rodrygo's early goal, City dominated but Madrid's defence, marshalled by Rudiger and captain Nacho Fernandez, stayed afloat.
Why it matters for Antonio Rudiger
Rudiger established himself as an essential figure at the back for Madrid, especially with David Alaba and Eder Militao out injured for long stretches of the campaign.
The 31-year-old defender excelled last season in the 1-1 semi-final first leg draw with City at the Santiago Bernabeu, but was dropped for the second leg.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti accepted his mistake and confirmed Rudiger would be starting against City at the Etihad Stadium this time.
What comes next?
Rudiger will face Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, and after shackling Haaland, he will fancy his chances of doing the same to his next opponent.
Rudiger's only blot on his copybook on a nearly flawless night was his involvement in Manchester City's equaliser, but he made up for it by scoring the winning penalty.
The defender did not have to wait much longer to beat Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, drilling a low effort in off the post.
Rudiger helped Andriy Lunin stop Mateo Kovacic's spot-kick, signalling the direction the Ukrainian should dive to stop the Croatian midfielder's effort.
Madrid will face a tough test in the semi-finals, but with Rudiger in top form, they have a good chance of advancing to the final.
The defender's experience of winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 will be invaluable in the upcoming matches.
Rudiger's performance against Manchester City was a testament to his skills and dedication, and he will be a key player for Madrid in the semi-finals.