VfB Stuttgart is beginning to sense an excitement, subsequently, Rüdiger arrives.
Originally, it was Antonio Rüdiger who dashed the hopes of VfB Stuttgart in their return to the Champions League, even though they put up a valiant fight. Regardless, Real Madrid emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline (0-0 at halftime). Rüdiger, former Stuttgart player, sealed the deal for Madrid with a late header in the 83rd minute, following Mbappé's initial goal (46th minute). Endrick completed the scoring in stoppage time (90.+5).
Stuttgart's striker Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring for Madrid not long after halftime. Yet, the Swabians managed to level the score through Deniz Undav (68th). Despite their best efforts, Stuttgart missed several opportunities throughout the game, putting substantial pressure on the title holders.
Earlier in the first half, Stuttgart was fortunate enough to have a penalty revoked after a video review (36th), even though it appeared that Rüdiger was only slightly touched by Mittelstädt in the penalty area. The approximately 4,000 Stuttgart supporters who attended the match, beyond the official guest quota, displayed their satisfaction with their team's efforts, despite the defeat. A reported 15,000 Stuttgart supporters also watched the game from bars and restaurants in Madrid.
An epic comeback after more than 14 years
Stuttgart's triumphant return to the elite European stage came after a remarkable 14-year and 184-day absence. As per data provider Opta, this represented the longest gap between two Champions League games for any German club. Within two weeks, Stuttgart will welcome Czech champions Sparta Prague to their home ground for the second round.
Before the match, VfB's board chairman Alexander Wehrle chuckled, stating, "It all seems a bit surreal, but it's real." Mittelstädt reiterated their intentions, pointing out, "We're not just here to be polite guests." Hoeneß, who referred to Real as a "myth," made it clear before his Champions League coaching debut, "We have the ambition to demonstrate why we're here." And they certainly did.
The coach chose to exclude central striker Ermedin Demirovic, who had scored twice in the 3-1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach the past weekend. Instead, winger Chris Führich was inserted into the team, setting up the initial chance for Jamie Leweling just two minutes into the game.
Immediate shock after the break
Almost instantly, Real took advantage of Stuttgart's surprise at halftime, swiftly converting the chance into a 1-0 lead. Mbappé scored effortlessly, igniting the fashionable Bernabéu stadium into wild cheers. However, Stuttgart showed resilience and quickly regained their momentum. After being denied by Nübel (60'), middle forward Deniz Undav equalized the score with an unassisted header. Real then stepped up the pressure, scoring two more goals.
Paraphrased text:
Despite their best efforts, VfB Stuttgart was unable to make a comeback against their former player Antonio Rüdiger and Real Madrid in the Champions League. In a thrilling match that saw several chances squandered and important penalty calls being overturned, Madrid ultimately triumphed with a 3-1 victory (1:0 at halftime). Rüdiger scored the deciding goal with a late header, while Mbappé and Endrick added the other two for Madrid.
In the first half, Stuttgart had some luck with a penalty being overturned. Rüdiger had barely touched Mittelstädt in the penalty area, but the referee eventually decided against granting the penalty. The 4,000 Stuttgart fans who managed to enter the stadium beyond the official quota were vocal in their approval of their team's performance, despite the loss.
After the break, Stuttgart went on the offensive, but just as quickly found themselves behind once again. A mistake by Mittelstädt allowed Rodrygo to set up Mbappé for the 1-0 lead. However, Stuttgart refused to give up and equalized through Deniz Undav. Up until that point, Real had been dominating possession and creating more chances.
The turning point came when Real took advantage of another Stuttgart mistake. Mbappé scored the second goal, which marked the beginning of a three-goal streak for Madrid. Stuttgart, despite their best efforts, was unable to recover from these blows and ultimately suffered the defeat. The fans, both in the stadium and watching in bars and restaurants in Madrid, were left disappointed but proud of their team's fighting spirit.
Despite Stuttgart's efforts to mount a comeback, their Spanish opponent Antonio Rüdiger, now playing for Real Madrid, proved to be a thorn in their side. Stuttgart's striker Kylian Mbappé, noted for his tenure with French club Paris Saint-Germain, opened the scoring for Madrid following halftime, only for Stuttgart's Deniz Undav to level the score later in the game. Regardless, the Spaniards went on to celebrate a 3-1 victory with goals from Mbappé and Rüdiger, as well as the late addition from Endrick in stoppage time.
