3 Real Madrid vs 1 VfB Stuttgart
Real Madrid take on Stuttgart in first-ever UCL clash.
Real Madrid begins their European campaign with a highly anticipated inaugural clash against VfB Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabéu, looking to extend their dominant record over German teams.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid will begin their European campaign on Tuesday against Stuttgart in what will surprisingly be the first competitive match between both sides. Successive 2-0 victories over Betis and more recently Real Sociedad leave Madrid in 4th place on the board in La Liga ahead of this clash against Stuttgart.
‘It was a complicated game, and we probably didn't deserve to win because Real Sociedad played very well,’ Carlo Ancelotti said in a post-match interview at the weekend. Having defeated Dortmund on the way to their record 15th UCL title last term, Madrid will be relishing the opportunity to face another German side on the opening day of the revamped edition of the UEFA Champions League.
The Whites have faced 15 different German teams in the competition to date and have only lost one of their last 21 games against such outfits. Overall, Madrid have won 29 of their 39 home games against German opposition.
Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and Mbappe, who will be making his UCL debut in a Madrid shirt, are expected in attack when Carlo Ancelotti deploys the 4—3—3. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Jude Bellingham recently returned to training after missing out on the international break and are doubts for Tuesday’s game, while Eduardo Camavinga and David Alaba are ruled out.
Brahim Díaz, who was forced off in the 24th minute at the weekend against Sociedad, is also ruled out of this midweek encounter.
VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart are coming off a confidence-boosting 3-1 win on Saturday over Mönchengladbach. Two goals from Ermedin Demirović, spaced four minutes apart, alongside a Deniz Undav goal, steered Stuttgart to their first victory of the season.
Die Schwaben will be hoping to pick up consecutive victories across two competitions as they prepare to face Real Madrid in the maiden edition of the UCL league phase. With 36 sides in the competition, an unlikely wish to finish inside the top eight for an automatic spot in the next round may go unrealized.
Nevertheless, Stuttgart will give it a go when they visit the Santiago Bernabéu for what would be their first UCL appearance since March 2010. However, a poor record against Spanish opposition will remain a source of worry for the visitors, who are without a win in six attempts against such sides in the competition.
A 4-2-3-1 formation with Deniz Undav in attack is anticipated against Real Madrid. Ameen Al Dakhil and Nikolas Nartey will miss out on this trip to Madrid.
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