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MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 14: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona runs with the ball while under pressure from Matteo Ruggeri of Atletico de Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Club Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Riyadh Air Metropolitano on April 14, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
La Gazzetta dello Sport calls Matteo Ruggeri ‘heroic’ after Atlético Madrid’s aggregate win over Barcelona, which sent the Colchoneros to the Champions League semi-finals.
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Ruggeri’s Atlético Madrid suffered a 2-1 home defeat to domestic rivals Barcelona in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, but still managed to progress to the semis with a 3-2 aggregate victory.
Italy international Ruggeri played the full game, emerging as one of the best players on the field at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Praise for Ruggeri as Atletico Madrid knock Barcelona out of Champions League
La Gazzetta dello Sport rated Ruggeri 7/10, the same as Antoine Griezmann and ex-Atalanta star Ademola Lookman, only behind his teammates Marcos Llorente and Kone and Barça’s star Yamal (7.5).
“The man from Bergamo had to deal with that demon on Lamine Yamal once again. And he did,” wrote Gazzetta.
“Bloodied and, in the end, heroic.”
Ruggeri was elbowed by Barcelona midfielder Gavi in the final minutes, leaving him with a bleeding head wound and forcing the Italian to finish the match wearing a bandage.
Ruggeri, 23, is in his first season at Atlético Madrid, where he has collected seven assists in 39 appearances across all competitions.
Ruggeri was called up to the Italy national team only once, during the March break in 2025, and has yet to make his senior Azzurri debut, despite playing 16 games with Italy U21.
ByLorenzo Bettoni
Lorenzo Bettoni is the Editor of Football Italia.
