The clash between Real Madrid and VfB Stuttgart marked a thrilling start to Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League title defense and Stuttgart’s long-awaited return to Europe’s elite competition after a 15-year absence. Played at a sold-out Santiago Bernabéu, the match delivered drama, tactical intrigue, and late heroics. Below is a detailed timeline and analysis of the key moments that defined this captivating encounter.

Pre-Match Context

Real Madrid entered the match as defending champions, aiming to extend their record to 16 UCL titles. With new signing Kylian Mbappé making his Champions League debut for the club, expectations were sky-high. However, injuries to key players like David Alaba, Eduardo Camavinga, and Dani Ceballos forced manager Carlo Ancelotti to experiment with his lineup.

VfB Stuttgart, Bundesliga runners-up in 2023/24, returned to the Champions League under manager Sebastian Hoeneß. Despite missing several starters due to injuries, including Nikolas Nartey and Ameen Al-Dakhil, Stuttgart’s aggressive pressing style and counterattacking threat promised a stern test for the Spanish giants.

Key Storylines:

• Mbappé’s first UCL appearance for Real Madrid.
• Stuttgart’s first Champions League match since the 2009/10 season.
• Tactical battle between Ancelotti’s experience and Hoeneß’s high-energy approach.

Confirmed Lineups

Real Madrid (4-3-3):

1. Thibaut Courtois (GK)
2. Lucas Vázquez (RB)
3. Dani Carvajal (CB)
4. Antonio Rüdiger (CB)
5. Ferland Mendy (LB)
6. Aurélien Tchouaméni (CDM)
7. Federico Valverde (CM)
8. Jude Bellingham (CM)
9. Rodrygo (RW)
10. Vinícius Júnior (LW)
11. Kylian Mbappé (ST)

Substitutes: Éder Militão, Luka Modrić, Endrick, Fran García, Arda GülerVfB Stuttgart (4-2-3-1):

1. Alexander Nübel (GK)
2. Josha Vagnoman (RB)
3. Anthony Rouault (CB)
4. Dan-Axel Zagadou (CB)
5. Maximilian Mittelstädt (LB)
6. Atakan Karazor (CDM)
7. Angelo Stiller (CDM)
8. Jamie Leweling (RM)
9. Enzo Millot (CAM)
10. Chris Führich (LM)
11. Deniz Undav (ST)

Substitutes: Leonidas Stergiou, Roberto Massimo, Laurin Ulrich, Serhou Guirassy

First Half Timeline

0–10 Minutes:

• 5’: Stuttgart’s first chance! Jamie Leweling intercepts a loose pass from Lucas Vázquez and drives into the box, but his shot is blocked by Antonio Rüdiger.
• 10’: HUGE MISS BY STUTTGART
  • Enzo Millot latches onto a through-ball from Deniz Undav and races clear of Madrid’s defense. One-on-one with Courtois, he drags his left-footed shot wide of the far post.

11–20 Minutes:

• 18’: COURTOIS SAVES AGAIN
  • Stuttgart carves Madrid open with a quick passing sequence. Undav plays a clever backheel to Angelo Stiller, whose chipped effort is tipped over by Courtois.
• 20’: Real Madrid’s first threat. Vinícius Júnior cuts inside from the left and forces Nübel into a low save.

21–30 Minutes:

• 28’: WOODWORK SHAKEN
  • Undav receives the ball 25 yards out, spins past Tchouaméni, and unleashes a deflected strike that crashes off the crossbar.

31–45 Minutes:

• 33’: PENALTY DRAMA
  • Rüdiger goes down in the box under pressure from Mittelstädt. The referee initially awards a penalty but overturns it after VAR shows minimal contact.
• 45’: Halftime whistle. Score: Real Madrid 0–0 Stuttgart.

First Half Analysis:
Stuttgart dominated proceedings, outshooting Madrid 7–2. Their high press disrupted Real’s buildup, while Courtois’ heroics kept the hosts level. Ancelotti’s decision to play Carvajal as a center-back left Madrid vulnerable on the right flank, which Stuttgart exploited repeatedly.

Second Half Timeline

46–60 Minutes:

• 46’: MBAPPÉ BREAKS THE DEADLOCK
  • Straight from kickoff, Tchouaméni launches a long ball to Rodrygo, who outmuscles Mittelstädt. The Brazilian squares it to Mbappé for a tap-in. 1–0 Real Madrid.
• 59’: VINÍCIUS HITS THE BAR
  • The Brazilian cuts inside and curls a shot from the edge of the box, beating Nübel but rattling the crossbar.

61–75 Minutes:

• 68’: UNDAV EQUALIZES
  • Leweling’s corner is flicked on by Rüdiger, and Undav powers a header past Courtois at the back post. 1–1.

76–90 Minutes:

• 83’: RÜDIGER REDEEMS HIMSELF
  • Luka Modrić’s corner finds Rüdiger unmarked, and the German defender heads home against his former club. 2–1 Real Madrid.
• 90+5’: ENDRICK SEALS IT
  • The 18-year-old Brazilian substitute collects the ball 30 yards out and fires a rocket that squirms under Nübel. 3–1 Real Madrid.

Full-Time: Real Madrid 3–1 VfB Stuttgart.

Key Moments and Tactical Shifts

1. Stuttgart’s Pressing Masterclass:
   Stuttgart’s high press forced 12 turnovers in Madrid’s half during the first 45 minutes. Their midfield trio of Stiller, Millot, and Leweling overwhelmed Tchouaméni and Valverde, limiting Madrid to long balls.
2. Ancelotti’s Half-Time Adjustments:
   • Introduced Militão for Vázquez, shifting Carvajal to right-back.
   • Ordered quicker transitions to exploit Stuttgart’s high line, leading to Mbappé’s goal.
3. Stuttgart’s Aerial Threat:
   Undav’s equalizer highlighted Stuttgart’s set-piece prowess. Of their 14 goals in 2024/25, 6 had come from headers before this match.
4. Modrić’s Impact:
   The 39-year-old Croatian replaced Tchouaméni in the 70th minute and provided the assist for Rüdiger’s winner, completing 96% of his passes.

Post-Match Reactions

Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid Manager):
“Stuttgart made us suffer, but our mentality in the final 15 minutes was decisive. Endrick’s goal? He has the talent to define an era here.”

Sebastian Hoeneß (Stuttgart Manager):
“We deserved at least a point. Our players showed courage, but Madrid’s individual quality decided the game.”

Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid GK):
“I made saves, but this is a team effort. We know how to win even when we’re not at our best.”

Statistical Breakdown

Metric	Real Madrid	Stuttgart
Possession	54%	46%
Shots on Target	6	4
Expected Goals (xG)	2.1	1.7
Fouls Committed	11	16
Saves	3	4

Historical Context and Implications

• Real Madrid: Extended their unbeaten UCL home run to 28 matches. Mbappé became the 7th player to score on his UCL debut for the club.
• Stuttgart: Deniz Undav’s goal ended a 5,246-minute wait for a Stuttgart UCL goal since Cacau’s strike against Barcelona in 2010.
• Endrick: At 18 years and 117 days, the Brazilian became Madrid’s youngest-ever UCL scorer.

Looking Ahead:

• Madrid’s victory reinforced their status as title favorites despite defensive vulnerabilities.
• Stuttgart’s performance signaled their potential to advance from the group stage, with Hoeneß’s side earning plaudits for their bravery.

Conclusion

Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over VfB Stuttgart encapsulated the drama and unpredictability of Champions League football. While Stuttgart’s tactical discipline and pressing caused problems for the hosts, individual brilliance from Mbappé, Rüdiger, and Endrick proved decisive. For Stuttgart, the match served as a reminder of their growth under Hoeneß, while Madrid showcased their trademark resilience in navigating tough encounters.

As the competition progresses, both teams will aim to build on this performance—Madrid toward another historic trophy, and Stuttgart toward cementing their place among Europe’s resurgent forces.