Rodrygo has been hailed as a future legend at Real Madrid following his standout performance in their 2-1 Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid. The Brazilian forward played a key role as his side secured a narrow advantage ahead of the second leg of the last-16 tie.
Real Madrid made a dream start at the Bernabeu, with Rodrygo scoring a brilliant opener inside five minutes. However, Atletico responded before halftime with a stunning equalizer from Julian Alvarez, who curled a superb shot past Thibaut Courtois. The visitors appeared to have momentum going into the break.
Despite Atletico’s pressure, defending champions Real Madrid found a way to regain control in the second half. Brahim Diaz stepped up with a moment of brilliance, netting the winner ten minutes after the restart to give Carlo Ancelotti’s side a crucial first-leg lead. The battle now moves to the Metropolitano Stadium for the decisive return fixture.
Former England international Joe Cole was full of praise for Rodrygo after the game, predicting the 24-year-old would go down as one of Real Madrid’s greatest players. Speaking on TNT Sports, Cole noted that Rodrygo’s contributions often go unnoticed compared to superstars like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.
Rodrygo has already won three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues, and Jude Bellingham recently called him the “most talented” player in Madrid’s squad. Cole echoed those sentiments, adding, “He’s probably 1% below the biggest names, but he sacrifices more for his teammates than anyone else.”
Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the difficulty of facing Atletico’s defense but credited his players’ work ethic for securing the win. He emphasized that nothing is decided yet, as knockout ties of this magnitude are always finely balanced. With Mbappe and Vinicius leading the attack, he expects another high-intensity battle in the second leg.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone remained optimistic despite the defeat, believing his team showed enough fight to turn the tie around. He admitted defensive lapses cost them, but with home support in the return leg, Atletico will aim to capitalize on their chances.
The second leg at the Metropolitano promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams desperate to advance. Real Madrid will look to finish the job, while Atletico Madrid will fight to keep their Champions League hopes alive.