18-Sep-2024, 01:18 PM
Reigning Champions League holders Real Madrid began their title defense with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over VfB Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu. Despite not being at their best, Los Blancos managed to secure all three points thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger, and Endrick.
Mbappe Strikes Early in the Second Half
The match started evenly, with Stuttgart creating the better chances in the first half. However, Real Madrid struck just 30 seconds into the second period when Aurelien Tchouameni found Rodrygo, who squared for Mbappe to tap home on his Champions League debut for the club.
Stuttgart Equalize Through Undav
The German side’s persistence paid off in the 68th minute when Deniz Undav headed home at the back post to level the scores. Stuttgart were good value for their equalizer, forcing Thibaut Courtois into several important saves.
Late Goals Seal the Win for Real Madrid
Real Madrid regained their composure and began to assert their dominance. Mbappe continued to threaten, while Jude Bellingham’s creativity caused problems for the Stuttgart defense. It was Rudiger who put Real back in front, directing a header into the bottom corner from a Luka Modric corner.
Substitute Endrick then added a third deep into stoppage time with a speculative effort that squirmed under the goalkeeper, becoming the youngest Champions League scorer in Madrid’s history.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Reaction
Despite the victory, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged that his team still has room for improvement. “What we know is that the Champions League has changed, and it’s important to win quickly to see if we can qualify quickly or not,” he added.
Conclusion
While Real Madrid ultimately secured the three points, their performance highlighted the challenges they may face in defending their Champions League crown. With new formats and increased competition, the Spanish giants will need to find their best form quickly to navigate the group stage. Nevertheless, the presence of stars like Mbappe and Bellingham suggests that Real Madrid has the quality to overcome any obstacles in their path.
