NEW DELHI:
Real Madrid kicked off their title defense with a 3-1 victory over Stuttgart on Tuesday, featuring a standout performance from Kylian Mbappe, who netted his first goal in the Champions League for the club.
The match saw an exciting turn of events when Deniz Undav equalized shortly after halftime. However, Antonio Rudiger restored Madrid’s lead in the 83rd minute with a well-placed header. The scoring was capped off by Endrick, another newcomer to the Champions League scene, who sealed the win with a precise low shot during stoppage time.
Stuttgart showcased more flair in the opening half and created several chances but ultimately fell short against Carlo Ancelotti’s resilient squad. Known for their ability to secure victories under pressure, Real Madrid managed to clinch all three points despite Stuttgart’s spirited efforts.
Due to Eder Militao’s injury concerns, Ancelotti opted for Dani Carvajal as an unconventional choice in central defense while welcoming back Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni into midfield after their recent injuries. The absence of veteran Toni Kroos left Madrid searching for balance as they navigated through an end-to-end contest at Santiago Bernabeu.
In contrast to Real Madrid’s performance, Stuttgart dominated possession early on and created promising opportunities thanks largely to Enzo Millot’s contributions. Millot missed an early chance that could have shifted momentum and had Thibaut Courtois scrambling as he tipped over one of his long-range attempts—one of few saves required from the Belgian keeper throughout the match.
Alexander Nubel thwarted two attempts from Mbappe as he sought his inaugural Champions League goal for Real Madrid. Although there was controversy surrounding a potential penalty when Maximilian Mittelstadt appeared to foul Rudiger—initially awarded but later overturned by VAR—the German side continued pressing forward until Undav struck the crossbar just before halftime.
The second half began dramatically; within just 21 seconds after play resumed, Mbappe scored following a selfless assist from Rodrygo—a moment many fans missed while returning from refreshments at Bernabeu bars. Despite having previously struggled for silverware during his tenure at Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe is now eager to lift this prestigious trophy alongside Real Madrid.
Stuttgart responded quickly; Vinicius Junior hit the crossbar moments later before Jamie Leweling delivered a corner that allowed Undav to find space past Courtois and level things up again. With ten minutes remaining on the clock and needing fresh energy upfront, Ancelotti introduced 18-year-old Brazilian talent Endrick into play aiming for victory.
Rudiger eventually put Los Blancos ahead again with a powerful header off Luka Modric’s corner kick in what seemed like an unexpected source of goalscoring prowess coming from defense rather than attack-minded players typically associated with such moments. Vinicius squandered another opportunity shortly thereafter; however, Endrick made no mistake when presented with his chance—finishing emphatically from outside the box—to ensure that Real secured all three points in this thrilling encounter.
Student at Government College of Engineering Kolkata and an enthusiastic Journalist. Follows Topics such as Indian Politics, Gaming, Anime, etc. Click on the bell icon for more news and opinions from Srijan.
