Reigning champions Actual Madrid started their title protection with a conflict in opposition to German high-fliers VfB Stuttgart on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Matchday 1 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season.
That includes superstars Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham, Los Blancos had been overwhelming favorites to get most factors on Tuesday, September 17. The three-1 scoreline may recommend that it was a simple victory for the All-Whites, however in actuality, it was too shut for consolation.
VfB Stuttgart Dominate Actual Madrid In The First Half
Stuttgart loved a vivid begin on the Santiago Bernabeu, not letting the immensity of the event get to them. The guests lodged their first try heading in the right direction contained in the second minute, with Jamie Leweling testing Thibaut Courtois from a decent angle. Six minutes later, Lucas Vazquez ceded possession inside his half, and Deniz Undav snatched the free ball forward of make-shift center-back Dani Carvajal. The middle-forward then laid the ball off to Enzo Millot, who was one-on-one with Courtois. Fortunately for the house workforce, the right-winger did not preserve his effort heading in the right direction.
Within the 14th and sixteenth minutes, Courtois produced two excellent stops, denying Millot and Angelo Stiller in fast succession. Simply earlier than the half-hour mark, Stuttgart went on the counter-attack with an additional man benefit. Striker Undav had assist on both facet however selected to go for glory by himself. It was a candy strike, however Carvajal learn his intentions and put in an important block that carried the ball onto the highest of the crossbar and behind for a nook. Had it not been for the good Courtois, Los Merengues would have had a mountain to climb within the second half.
Debutants Kylian Mbappe & Endrick Seal Madrid Win
Carlo Ancelotti seemingly gave his stars an earful throughout half-time, as they appeared much more tuned-in within the second half. Solely 20 seconds into the half, Madrid pulled forward, with Mbappe tapping in Rodrygo’s layoff on the far publish. It was a special day for Mbappe, as he started his Champions League journey with Actual Madrid with a fantastic purpose.
Stuttgart deservedly equalized by means of Undav within the 68th minute, however the hosts weren’t within the temper to accept a 1-1 draw. Fifteen minutes later, Luka Modric delivered a peach of a nook, permitting Antonio Rudiger to go it in.
Then, within the fifth minute of damage time, one other Champions League debutant, Endrick, scored the insurance coverage purpose. The 18-year-old dispatched the shot with a number of energy, which caught Alexander Nubel off-guard, with the goalkeeper solely managing to push it into the underside left nook of the web.
Actual Madrid acquired the end result they needed on Champions League Matchday 1, however Ancelotti should return to the drafting board to unlock his star-studded facet’s true potential.
