Antonio Rudiger went full 'alpha mode' against Sergio Ramos as football's two mavericks square up

Antonio Rudiger had an incredible reaction after Sergio Ramos squared up to him during Real Madrid's La Liga clash at Sevilla.

Ramos was facing his former club for the first time since departing the Bernabeu in 2021 on a free transfer.

The 37-year-old's career at Real was glittered with accolades, and he played a leading role in Los Blancos winning four Champions League titles during his time at the club.

But Saturday night at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan was no time for reminiscing, with the Spain centre-back firmly focused on lifting his current side further away from the La Liga relegation zone after a tough start to the campaign.

He was typically combative in the early stages as he started on the left side of central defence alongside Nemanja Gudelj, but did manage to avoid a yellow card.

However, those who were hoping to see a confrontation were, of course, not disappointed.

On 42 minutes, Ramos squared up to Real counterpart Rudiger - one of the players who effectively replaced him after arriving in the summer of 2022.

It was a clash between two of football's most fierce competitors. And sparks did fly, although not in the way Ramos probably ever expects when he confronts another player.

While many players over the years would have backed down at the sight of a rampaging Ramos walking towards him, Rudiger did no such thing.

After the Spaniard grabbed him by the mouth and pulled his shirt, Rudiger did what not many would have dared to do - laugh.

RUDIGER is f**king crazy because I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone laugh at Ramos face 😭 pic.twitter.com/w94o0zITlg

— WolfRMFC (@WolfRMFC) October 21, 2023

The war of words briefly continued, but the Real Madrid icon eventually walked away when Rudiger's team-mates stepped in.

It was a victory in the mind-game battle for the German, and a yellow card eventually arrived on 77 minutes for Ramos after a foul.

That came three minutes after David Alaba's own goal had put Sevilla ahead, before Dani Carvajal's header levelled the scores four minutes later.

Seven yellow cards were handed out in a second half as discipline deteriorated, but neither side could find the winner and the game ended 1-1.

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