Emil Audero Made 7 Saves Against Real Madrid, John Herdman Gives Praise

Emil Audero's 2026/27 LaLiga debut ended in defeat for Rayo Vallecano. However, the 1-4 scoreline at the Santiago Bernabéu does not fully reflect the performance of the Indonesia national team goalkeeper, who received positive praise from head coach John Herdman.

Facing off against Real Madrid and their squad of star players, Emil remained composed under heavy pressure. According to Sofascore records, the Mataram-born goalkeeper recorded seven saves during the match, including denying Kylian Mbappé a hat-trick opportunity.

For Herdman, taking the pitch at the Santiago Bernabéu for Emil's first competitive match with his new club was both an extremely tough test and a major opportunity.

"In my view, this was an enormous stage for Emil to perform on. He had only just finished pre-season with Como, and now he is starting his career in Spain. And this was an incredibly difficult opening fixture to begin that journey here," Herdman stated while in Jakarta.

Emil was never going to have an easy match. Rayo Vallecano had to travel to face Real Madrid at their home ground, with world-class players lining up to threaten his goal.

Kylian Mbappé opened Madrid's lead from the penalty spot in the 14th minute. Three minutes later, Álvaro Carreras doubled the advantage, before Jude Bellingham extended Madrid's lead to 3-0 in the 35th minute.

Rayo Vallecano mounted a response when Sergio Camello pulled a goal back to cut the deficit in the 51st minute. However, Mbappé scored once again in the 90+1st minute to seal a 4-1 victory for Madrid.

Amidst constant unrelenting pressure, Emil still produced several critical moments throughout the game. Those seven saves demonstrated just how hard the 29-year-old goalkeeper worked for the full duration of the match, most notably when dealing with direct attacking threats from Mbappé.

This match also marked a brand new chapter in Emil's career. He joined Rayo Vallecano on a one season loan deal from Como, with this move marking the first time he has played professional football outside of Italy.

Prior to transferring to Spain, Emil had spent his entire club career competing for Italian sides. Juventus, Venezia, Sampdoria, Inter Milan, Palermo, Cremonese and Como all form part of his playing history in Italy.

Now, La Liga presents him with a fresh challenge. While his debut against Real Madrid may have ended with a bitter result, the experience of facing one of the biggest clubs in the world will be invaluable foundation for Emil as he competes this season with Rayo Vallecano.

Herdman sees this moment as far more than just one player's individual performance. Emil taking the field at the Bernabéu sends a powerful message to the next generation of Indonesian footballers: competing at the highest levels of European football is not an impossible goal.

"He represents our nation with immense pride. To see an Indonesian player take the pitch against Real Madrid should inspire every young footballer in Indonesia, and remind them that absolutely anything is possible," he stated.

This praise comes as Emil begins building his new career in Spain. After many years competing in Italy, he now has the chance to prove himself in one of Europe's most competitive top flight leagues.

His debut against Real Madrid gave an early indication of the challenges that lie ahead. Rayo Vallecano may have left the Bernabéu without any points, but Emil departed the match with seven saves under his belt and priceless experience going up against Mbappé and the rest of Real Madrid's star squad.

This performance is also positive news for the Indonesia national team. For Herdman, he now has a goalkeeper with first hand experience competing in high-stakes matches at the top level of European football.