Real Madrid will begin their Champions League title defense tonight, hosting a surprising German side from last season.
Notably, this will be Kylian Mbappé’s debut with the Merengue in the competition, a tournament where he has often faced defeat against Real Madrid in the past.
Carlo Ancelotti’s squad hopes for a better start in the Champions League than in La Liga, where they were held to a 1-1 draw by Mallorca on the opening day before securing two comfortable home victories against Valladolid (3-0) and Real Bétis (2-0). Last weekend, they traveled to face Real Sociedad in an attempt to close the gap on Barcelona, who have been dominant so far.
Stuttgart, who finished 3rd in the Bundesliga last season, has had a mixed start to their campaign. They surprised many under the leadership of Guirassy, who has since left the club and will not feature in their Champions League run.
This is Stuttgart’s first appearance in the competition since the 2009-10 season when they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. Stuttgart’s recent form has been inconsistent, with a defeat in the German Super Cup against Bayer Leverkusen, followed by a 3-1 loss to Freiburg in the Bundesliga opener.
A 3-3 draw with Mainz in their second league match leaves them still searching for their first win. Last weekend, they faced Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Real Madrid faces some squad limitations with key players missing, including Joan Martinez, David Alaba, Camavinga, and Ceballos. However, stars like Jude Bellingham, Ferland Mendy, Arda Güler, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Eder Militao were expected to feature against Real Sociedad.
Kylian Mbappé, who has scored three goals in his first five matches with Real Madrid, continues to face criticism from the French press regarding his positioning but remains a constant threat alongside Vinicius and Rodrygo, despite Rodrygo being snubbed from the Ballon d’Or finalists list.
Stuttgart is also dealing with several injuries, including Al Dakhil, Nartey, and French defender Rouault. Meanwhile, Dan-Axel Zagadou, who missed time before the international break, played in a friendly to regain fitness.
Stuttgart has seen Guirassy leave, but Undav, who was on loan from Brighton last season, has now joined permanently. French international hopeful Enzo Millot, who scored five goals in the Bundesliga last year, is also available.
Prediction
Real Madrid has not seen a home game with over 3.5 goals in 42 matches, while Stuttgart’s recent away games in the Champions League have often been low-scoring affairs, with under 3.5 goals in 17 consecutive matches.
Prediction: Real Madrid 1 – 1 Stuttgart
