Just days after his recent signing with Real Madrid this season, Antonio Rudiger experienced a fatal head injury during the match against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday. Despite his injury, the central back is keen on playing in the upcoming El Clasico on Sunday.

In Tuesday’s match, Real Madrid almost avoided an upset against the Ukrainian Club with Rudiger’s head goal. Unfortunately, his celebration was cut short when he slammed his head hard into Shakhtar goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin. 

Even though the medical team got there quickly, the defender needed 20 stitches, which caused the wound to swell and impair his vision in his right eye.

Even though the German star still cannot fully open his right eye, he is adamant about ‘playing at all costs’. There is also a chance that Antonio could play in the match against Barcelona as it is scheduled on Sunday, giving the defender enough time to recover.

If he recovers by the time of the match, he is expected to wear a protective mask with the design that supports him the most, and there were several designs that were presented to him.

This would be Rudiger’s first time playing a match against the Catalan club in Whites. The match at Santiago Bernabeu would be a crucial match for both the teams, as whoever wins would get a three-point lead in an early title race. With both of them fighting for this year’s title, this next game would be one of the most anticipated matches for both the fans and the players.