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As Real Madrid prepares to face VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday night in the opening matchday of the Champions League’s new league phase, anticipation is high. The reigning champions are looking to kick off their campaign for a record-extending 16th title. It is a historic moment for both clubs, as this will mark their first-ever meeting, with Madrid playing at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Three months have passed since Real Madrid last faced German opposition, clinching their latest European title with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the final held at Wembley. This victory added yet another Champions League trophy to their already impressive collection, marking their sixth title in the last decade. Under Carlo Ancelotti’s stewardship, Los Blancos remain a formidable force, particularly in this competition. The 2023-2024 season offers a fresh challenge, and the holders will undoubtedly be eager to start strong.
Stuttgart, on the other hand, is in for a tough start to their Champions League campaign. Drawn into one of the most difficult groups in this newly formatted league stage, they are set to face some of Europe’s heavyweights, including Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, and Atalanta. Traveling to Madrid for the first match is undoubtedly a daunting task for Sebastian Hoeness’s men, especially considering Stuttgart’s underwhelming record against Spanish sides in Europe.
Real Madrid’s Quest for Title Number 16
Real Madrid’s dominance in the Champions League is unparalleled, and their 15 titles are testament to their consistent success on the European stage. With players like Kylian Mbappe joining the squad this season, Madrid will be looking to add more firepower to their already formidable attack. The French forward, who has a remarkable record of 48 goals in 73 Champions League matches for PSG and Monaco, is poised to make his debut for Los Blancos in the competition.
Despite Madrid’s status as heavy favorites, Ancelotti’s squad has been dealing with several injuries in recent weeks. Key players such as Jude Bellingham, who has been sidelined for a month, and Aurelien Tchouameni have recently returned to training after missing out on international duties. While Bellingham’s return is a positive sign for Madrid, the team is still without Brahim Diaz, who is expected to miss the next eight weeks due to a muscle injury sustained during their recent match against Real Sociedad. Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos, too, remain unavailable, with both midfielders likely to return by the end of the month.
Despite these absences, Real Madrid’s depth in attack and defense remains strong. Players like Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Federico Valverde have all stepped up when needed, and the backline, anchored by Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger, has been solid. In goal, Thibaut Courtois continues to be a reliable presence, having performed admirably throughout Madrid’s unbeaten start to the season.
Los Blancos’ remarkable record against German clubs in the Champions League will also give them a boost of confidence going into this fixture. Having won 14 of their last 21 games against German opposition and losing just once, Real Madrid has a history of delivering against Bundesliga sides. Furthermore, their home form in Europe is particularly impressive — in their last 74 home matches in the competition, only CSKA Moscow has managed to prevent them from scoring.
Madrid’s recent 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad extended their unbeaten run to six matches across all competitions this season. Despite trailing Barcelona by four points in La Liga, the team will be eager to maintain their momentum as they shift their focus back to Europe.
Stuttgart’s Tough Road Ahead
While Real Madrid enters this matchup with the weight of history and expectations behind them, Stuttgart faces an uphill battle. The German side has been drawn into a particularly challenging group, and starting their campaign away at the Santiago Bernabeu is arguably one of the toughest assignments they could have received.
Stuttgart’s record against Spanish opposition does not inspire much confidence. In six previous encounters with La Liga teams, the Swabians have won just two matches, losing four. Their most recent clash with a Spanish side came in 2010, when they were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by Barcelona in the Round of 16. While they did manage to reach the Europa League last season after finishing as Bundesliga runners-up, Stuttgart’s last appearance in European competition ended in disappointment, as they were knocked out by Rijeka in a 2013 qualifier.
Despite a challenging start to their Bundesliga campaign, Stuttgart enters this game with a degree of optimism following their 3-1 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach at the weekend. Ermedin Demirovic was the standout performer in that match, scoring twice to take his tally to five goals for both club and country this season. The Bosnian striker will likely be Stuttgart’s main threat in Madrid, alongside Deniz Undav, who netted his first league goal of the season against Gladbach. Undav, who impressed for Germany during the international break, will be eager to make an impact against the reigning European champions.
Stuttgart’s midfield will have to work hard to contain Madrid’s creative players, especially if Bellingham returns to action. The Swabians will likely field a midfield trio of Atakan Karazor, Angelo Stiller, and Timothy Leweling, all of whom will be tasked with disrupting Madrid’s flow and limiting their opportunities in the final third.
Unfortunately for Stuttgart, their defensive options remain limited due to a number of injuries. Leonidas Stergiou is nearing a return from a back issue, but Ameen Al Dakhil remains out, and defenders Frans Kratzig and Nikolas Nartey are unlikely to feature before October. The young forward Justin Diehl also remains sidelined with a long-term injury.
Given the quality of the opposition and the challenges they face on both ends of the pitch, Stuttgart will need to be at their very best to stand a chance against Real Madrid. While the visitors have the potential to cause an upset, the odds are firmly stacked against them, especially considering Madrid’s imperious form at home in Europe.
Prediction
All signs point to a comfortable victory for Real Madrid in this opening match. Even with several key players out due to injury, the depth and quality of Los Blancos' squad should be enough to secure all three points. Stuttgart’s attack, led by Demirovic and Undav, may cause some problems, but the German side will need to be almost perfect to keep Madrid at bay, especially given the home team’s attacking firepower.
In their last 74 home Champions League games, only CSKA Moscow has managed to prevent Real Madrid from scoring, highlighting how difficult it is for visiting teams to leave the Bernabeu with a positive result. Stuttgart will need to be defensively solid and clinical in attack to have any chance, but it seems unlikely that they will be able to match the reigning champions’ quality over 90 minutes.
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