Bundesliga
Stuttgart narrowly beaten in Madrid
VfB Stuttgart were undone by a couple of late goals after pushing holders Real Madrid to the limit on their return to the UEFA Champions League.
Real Madrid 3-1 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 1-0 Mbappé 46' (assist: Rodrygo), 1-1 Undav 68' (assist: Leweling), 2-1 Rüdiger 83' (assist: Modrić), 3-1 Endrick 90'+5 (assist: Carvajal)
There were shades of Union Berlin's brave efforts in defeat to Madrid last season as Stuttgart smoothered the defending champions for large parts of an encouraging first-half display. After Aurélien Tchouaméni shot wide for the hosts, Sebastian Hoeneß's side took charge as Enzo Millot drove wide and Jamie Leweling tested the reflexes of Thibaut Courtois. Real's custodian then denied Millot, before brilliantly getting something on Angelo Stiller's attempted chip. Alexander Nübel followed suit to prevent Kylian Mbappé from breaking the deadlock against the run of play, the Bayern Munich loanee also saving well from Rodrygo in the ensuing passage of play. Germany forward Deniz Undav did beat Courtois with a deflected strike in the 28th minute, only for the ball to cannon off the crossbar.
Maximilian Mittelstädt survived a VAR check for a penalty late in the first half, but the Stuttgart left-back could do nothing to stop Real forging ahead immediately after the restart. His attempted challenge only helped the ball into the path of Rodrygo, who raced away and set up Mbappé to send a routine finish beyong Nübel. Vinícius Júnior rattled the woodwork as Real turned the screw, but Stuttgart rode the storm and got themselves back on level terms with over 20 minutes remaining. Leweling won and took a corner from which Undav angled a superb header back across goal and past Courtois. Madrid were shell-shocked but, as they do so often in the Champions League, found a way to win. After ex-Stuttgart defender Antonio Rüdiger headed home unmarked from a Luka Modrić corner, Nübel let Endrick's long-range effort slip through his fingers, along with all hopes of a positive result, in added time.
Watch: VfB Stuttgart fans out in force in Madrid
Match stats
- Stuttgart are playing Champions League/ European Cup football for the fifth time, and first since reaching the 2009/10 round of 16.
- Undav has scored 22 goals in 39 Bundesliga, DFB Cup, Supercup and Champions League appearances for Stuttgart.
- Cacau was the last Stuttgart player to score in the Champions League, doing so against Barcelona in February 2010.
- Of all the players in the Stuttgart starting line-up in Madrid, only Nübel and Stiller had played Champions League football before.
- Stuttgart are the 16th German club to face Real in the Champions League.
- Rüdiger, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal have made a combined 190 Bundesliga appearances.
Line-ups
Real: Courtois - Vázquez (Militão 46'), Carvajal (c), Rüdiger, Mendy (Fran Garcia 76') - Tchouaméni (Modrić 70'), Valverde - Rodrygo (Arda Güler 76'), Bellingham (Endrick 80'), Vinicius Junior - Mbappé
Unused subs: Fran, Lunin, Vallejo
Out: Alaba (knee), Camavinga (knee), Ceballos (ankle)
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Stuttgart: Nübel - Vagnoman (Chase 63'), Rouault (Zagadou 90'), Chabot, Mittelstädt - Karazor (c), Stiller, Leweling, Millot (Touré 76'), Führich (Rieder 63') - Undav (Demirović 76')
Unused subs: Bredlow, Seimen, Krätzig, Stenzel, Keitel, Raimund
Out: Al-Dakhil (muscular), Nartey (knee), Raimund (groin), Stergiou (back)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß
As it happened!
3 - 1(0 - 0)
Madrid
FINAL
Stuttgart
90' +5
vs
Game, set and match
Real Madrid break up the pitch at pace. Endrick runs and runs and gets in sight of goal. The Brazilian shoots low and Nübel can only push the ball into the net. It's been a bad night for Stuttgart's goalkeeper here, with the custodian also at fault for Madrid's second of the night.
90' +4
vs
Nübel prevents Vinícius
Endrick slides a pass in for Vinícius, who can finish Stuttgart off. Nübel makes a crucial block to deny the striker and keep VfB in with the slightest of chances.
90' +2
vs
VfB try again
Karazor's flighted ball to the back stick seeks out Touré, who goes down under pressure from Modrić. Nothing doing, says the referee.
90'
vs
Time added on
There will be five minutes of added time played here.
89'
vs
Dan-Axel Zagadou
Anthony Rouault
87'
vs
Touré off target
Can Stuttgart come back again? Touré heads harmlessly wide after the visitors mount a late attack.
83'
vs
Hosts hit the front
This is far too easy. A Luka Modrić corner lands on Rüdiger's head and flies into the empty net. The ex-Stuttgart man has punished some poor defending by the visitors.
80'
vs
Endrick on
Real Madrid bring their 18-year-old Brazilian forward Endrick on for Bellingham, who has put in a shift here.
80'
vs
Endrick
Bellingham
79'
vs
Militão
78'
vs
Valverde
75'
vs
Subs time
Changes on both sides going into the final quarter. In one of those changes, Stuttgart striker Ermedin Demirović - in fine form for his new side of late - replaces goalscorer Deniz Undav.
75'
vs
El Bilal Touré
Enzo Millot
75'
vs
Ermedin Demirović
Deniz Undav
75'
vs
Güler
Rodrygo
75'
vs
García
Mendy
72'
vs
Undav forced out
Stuttgart are going for it. Undav latches onto a through pass and enters a battle with Antonio Rüdiger. The Madrid defender wins out.
70'
vs
Madrid change
The hosts bring veteran Luka Modrić into the game for the final 20 minutes.
70'
vs
Modrić
Tchouameni
68'
vs
Undav levels it!
Leweling has yet another shot blocked wide. From the resulting corner, the same players heads back across the goal, where Undav connects and angles a wonderful header back across Courtois and in! The 4,200 visiting fans erupt.
64'
vs
Leweling has a pop
Leweling's shot is easy enough for Courtois to stop.
63'
vs
Double swap
Sebastian Hoeneß makes an attacking change, with Arnie Chase and Fabian Rieder thrown into the action for the visitors.
63'
vs
Fabian Rieder
Chris Führich
63'
vs
Anrie Chase
Josha Vagnoman
60'
vs
Ancelotti
60'
vs
Ancelotti booked
Vinícius goes down and the Madrid coach is miffed. He lets his frustrations be known and the referee brandishes a yellow card in the Italian's face.
59'
vs
That man Courtois
The home goalkeeper is down once more to beat out Leweling's drive.
58'
vs
Madrid hit the woodwork
Carvajal controls the ball and rolls a pass across the area to Vinícius, who takes a touch and spanks a rising shot against the crossbar.
56'
vs
VfB gather themselves
This is more like it from Stuttgart. Leweling and Vagnoman combine well down the right, the latter hitting a cross-shot that makes Courtois work.
50'
vs
Tiki Taka
Suddenly Real Madrid are on fire in this game. A sweeping move forward ends up with Valverde passing right to Rodrygo, whose scooped effort is deflected wide.
48'
vs
Mbappé hungry
The France striker is in again on the left and opts to shoot. Nübel parries the ball away.
46'
vs
Real Madrid lead
What a start to the second half for the hosts. Tchouameni launches a pass from the back for Rodrygo to chase. Maximilian Mittelstädt sticks out a leg to try to intercept the pass but he can only poke it along into the Brazilian's path. The Madrid attacker gets into the area and slides across for Mbappé, who knocks home his first Champions League goal in Real Madrid colours.
46'
vs
Away we go again
The second half is underway ...
46'
vs
Militão
Vázquez
45'
vs
Time added on
We'll have four minutes tacked onto the end of this first half.
45'
vs
Top marks Rouault
Anthony Rouault does exceptionally well to deny Mbappé a shooting opportunity when the striker looked to have worked his way into a very dangerous position.
42'
vs
Stiller loses focus
Stiller walks himself into big trouble trying to play out from the back. Mbappé takes the ball and is about to strike, when the VfB defenders swarm and force the forward out.
40'
vs
VfB back on the attack
Undav tees up Leweling, whose shot is blocked out by Courtois. The referee calls the action back for an offside.
34'
vs
No penalty
The referee checks his screen and sees that there was no contact between Mittelstädt and Rüdiger. On we go.
34'
vs
Penalty Madrid?
Mittelstädt tries to hack the ball away inside the Real Madrid area but looks to have caught Rüdiger instead. The referee points to the spot, however, we'll have this one checked.
32'
vs
Madrid time
It's end to end now. Rodrygo has a shot deflected over and then another gathered by Nübel moments later.
30'
vs
Mittelstädt booked
Mittelstädt tugs Rodrygo back and is shown a yellow.
30'
vs
Maximilian Mittelstädt
28'
vs
VfB hit the woodwork
Madrid look to force a goal at one end, lose possession and are suddenly back tracking to stop a Stuttgart counter. Undav runs at Carvajal and gets a shot away. The ball clips Madrid's captain and loops over a stranded Courtois and onto the crossbar.
25'
vs
Nübel stops Mbappé
That had 1-0 written all over it. Mbappé with the ball inside the area on the left and shaping to shoot towards the far corner. Nübel's two-handed save denies the French striker. Stuttgart's keeper is alert again soon afterwards to save from Rodrygo.
23'
vs
Vázquez booked
Lucas Vázquez hauls down Chris Führich and the Real Madrid man goes into the referee's notebook.