Real Madrid defender admits Clasico defeats against Barcelona among his worst matches | OneFootball

In a moment of rare honesty, Real Madrid centre-back Antonio Rudiger has confessed that defeats against Barcelona rank among the most painful experiences of his time with Los Blancos.

Speaking to Qatari television outlet Alkass (h/t Mundo Deportivo), the German international did not shy away when asked about the worst matches of his Real Madrid career, immediately pointing to “a lost Clasico against Barcelona” as the most crushing.

While Rudiger did not specify the exact fixtures, the implications were clear. Barcelona have handed Real Madrid two humbling defeats this season alone.

Barcelona’s dominance

First, they dismantled Ancelotti’s side 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga—an emphatic statement that shook the capital.

Then came the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia, where Barça triumphed 5-2, asserting themselves as the superior side in a match that had all the hallmarks of a psychological blow to their eternal rivals.

Rudiger featured prominently in both games and was powerless to stop the wave of Barça dominance.

Antonio Rudiger admits Barcelona defeats are hard to swallow. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

His remarks are telling—not just for the emotional weight they carry, but also for what they might signal heading into the third and most decisive Clasico of the season: the Copa del Rey final later this month.

For Barcelona, this kind of public admission from a key Real Madrid figure will come as a subtle but significant morale boost.

The mental edge is already leaning towards the Catalans, as they have not only outplayed Real Madrid this season—they have also left a lasting psychological scar.

With the Blaugrana riding high on confidence and their young core, led by the likes of Lamine Yamal and Pedri, showing maturity beyond their years, Barcelona will go into the final not just with momentum but with belief.

Rudiger’s remarks only reinforce the idea that Real Madrid are still reeling from the earlier beatings. These were not just defeats—they were humiliations on the biggest stages.