Antonio Rudiger to be rested against Girona

Real Madrid are set to give Antonio Rudiger a breather when they face Girona in La Liga, with the defender expected to sit out as part of a carefully managed workload rather than for any injury or form-related issue.

Club staff want the German centre-back fully fresh for the decisive UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich, where his aggression and leadership at the back will be crucial.

Since returning to first-team action, Rudiger has been consistently reliable, tightening up Madrid’s defence in both domestic and European fixtures. That strong run has fuelled reports in Spain that he is now likely to sign a new contract with Real Madrid, despite earlier links suggesting he could leave at the end of the season. His importance to the squad, on and off the pitch, has grown to the point where short rests like the Girona game are seen as strategic protection for one of Carlo Ancelotti’s key pillars.

Madrid’s decision underlines how heavily they are prioritising the Bayern tie, with rotation framed around keeping Rudiger in peak condition for the club’s push for another Champions League title.