“Bench serves you right,” “Enjoy your seat” – Rival fans troll 29-year-old star who ‘thought he would be the big dog’ as he misses out on Real Madrid playing XI
Fans have taken to social media to mock Real Madrid's newest defensive addition Antonio Rudiger after he was left on the bench in their latest La Liga match.
Having moved from Stamford Bridge to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu during the summer, Rudiger had likely hoped to hit the ground running under Carlo Ancelotti.
However, the opposite has happened and the Germany international has played just one full game for Real Madrid, having entered as a substitute in their UEFA Super Cup final.
After starting alongside Nacho against Almeria in their first La Liga match of the campaign, the 29-year-old has been relegated to the bench once more.
Our starting XI is here!
📋✅ Our starting XI is here!
#CeltaRealMadrid https://t.co/FeOmxM3yrm
While he may likely come on at some point in the Celta Vigo clash, rival fans took to Twitter to troll the center-back. Here is a selection of their tweets:
@realmadriden Bench Serves you right. Antonio Rudiger 😀
@realmadriden Good luck on the bench “Rudiger.”
@realmadriden Rudiger from Chelsea starting line up to Madrid bench 🤣🤣🤣
@realmadriden Rudiger, we tried to warn you but you went for the moneys
@realmadriden I love to see Rudiger on the bench 😂
Rudiger must be familiar with the bench now. twitter.com/realmadriden/s…
Rudiger thought he would be the big dog in the Real Madrid team. Funny how things work. twitter.com/realmadriden/s…
Leave Chelsea for Real and you’ll be a bench warmer. Enjoy your seat :) twitter.com/realmadriden/s…
Real Madrid's starting lineup to face Celta Vigo
Los Blancos head to face Celta Vigo away at Balaidos, with the La Liga Champions set to begin life without Brazilian midfielder Casemiro. Madrid will hope to secure all three points available and have lined up a strong side to make that possible.
The away side started with none other than Thibaut Courtois in goal, with the Belgian shot-stopper maintaining his hegemony between the sticks. In front of the Belgian is a back four that will be familiar to those of a Real Madrid persuasion, with Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, David Alaba, and Dani Carvajal.
The Madrid midfield has a new triangle that Carlo Ancelotti will hope can offer solidity, industry, and tact moving forward. Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and the veteran Luka Modric have been tasked with controlling the middle of the park on this away trip.
Upfront, Real Madrid pulled no surprises with star men Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr. leading the line. The French striker will hope to continue his fine form from the previous season, while the Selecao forward will hope he can continue his impressive development.
Uruguayan midfielder Fede Valverde will man the right hand side of the Madrid attack this evening but will be expected to drop and provide an extra body in midfield.
Madrid will also have talent on the bench to provide cover for the game. These include Eden Hazard, Antonio Rudiger, Dani Ceballos, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, Lucas Vasquez, Jesus Vallejo, Nacho Fernandez, Andriy Lunin, and Luis Lopez.