Kylian Mbappe made a significant impact on his first Champions League appearance for Real Madrid, scoring as the holders began their title defense with a 3-1 win over Stuttgart on Tuesday.
Real Madrid, the record 15-time champions, opened the scoring with Mbappe’s goal early in the second half. Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav equalized shortly after, but Antonio Rudiger restored Madrid’s lead with a header in the 83rd minute. Endrick, also making his Champions League debut, secured the win with a goal in stoppage time.
Despite Stuttgart having the better chances in the first half, Carlo Ancelotti’s side managed to secure victory. “We suffered at the start because we lost a lot of duels… the important thing was to win and we won, so everything’s good,” Ancelotti said. “You always have to fight at the start of the season, when you aren’t at your best.”
Mbappe has now scored five goals in seven appearances across all competitions this season. He noted, “I know I can do more, each game I feel better and now I’m scoring goals, and I’m happy here.” He added, “(The game was) hard, but it’s the Champions League — it’s always difficult, but we won at home, we won the first game.” Mbappe emphasized the importance of early wins in the Champions League, stating, “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.”
Ancelotti had to adjust his lineup with Dani Carvajal playing in central defense due to Eder Militao’s injury. Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni returned from injury to play in midfield. The team is adjusting following Toni Kroos’s retirement in the summer.
Stuttgart had a strong first-half performance, with Enzo Millot creating several chances. He shot wide early on and forced Thibaut Courtois into a save. Mbappe had two efforts saved by Alexander Nubel. A penalty for Madrid was overturned after a VAR review showed no contact.
Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller and Undav threatened Madrid, with Undav hitting the crossbar. However, Mbappe put Madrid ahead just 21 seconds into the second half, assisted by Rodrygo. Stuttgart quickly equalized through Undav, but Rudiger’s header and Endrick’s late goal secured the victory for Madrid.
Endrick’s goal came after he chose to shoot from the edge of the box rather than pass to teammates Vinicius or Mbappe, with Courtois praising his decision. “He’s a kid with a lot of quality and he showed it,” Courtois commented.
