Bloodied ex-Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger ‘left needing 20 stitches’ after scoring last gasp Real Madrid equaliser
FORMER Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger was reportedly left requiring 20 stitches after putting his body on the line for Real Madrid.
The German was seen with his face covered in blood after netting a 95th minute equaliser for Los Blancos.
And claim that having received the treatment, the German will undergo tests tomorrow to see if he has suffered a fractured skull.
The Real Madrid star posted on Instagram from the plane saying: "We alive."
He also tweeted: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I am okay - thanks for all your messages."
Exiled Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donestk looked on the verge of bringing some joy to their war torn country when Oleksandr Zubkov gave them the lead just after half time.
But Rudiger then threw himself at a cross with almost the last kick of the game to beat goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to the ball and head into the net.
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Trubin was also hurt in the collision and required his head bandaged up before the game could continue.
The draw in Poland represented the first points European champions Real Madrid have dropped in this season's group stage.
And Carlo Ancelotti's men remain comfortably top of the group, four points ahead of second placed Leipzig.
But had Shakhtar held on, they would have moved above the German side and into a qualifying place with two matches left.
Instead, they remain a point behind Leipzig with a trip to Celtic to come followed by what could be a winner take all clash at home to the Red Bull-owned club.
While Rudiger and the Real Madrid team refused to give an inch during the match, the stadium in Warsaw united before the game in support of Ukraine.
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A giant card display featuring the Polish and Ukrainian flags brought colour to the stadium as the teams stood for the Champions League anthem.
Teams from Ukraine have been playing home European games in Poland and other neighbouring countries since the Russian invasion of their homeland in February.
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But Shakhtar have been exiled for significantly longer, with their home city of Donetsk having been occupied by pro-Russian separatists since 2014.
Rudiger joined Real Madrid from Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer.