Kylian Mbappe marked his Champions League debut for Real Madrid with a goal as the reigning champions commenced their title defense with a 3-1 victory over Stuttgart on Tuesday.
Mbappe, who has been making headlines since his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain, struck early in the second half to open the scoring.
Despite Deniz Undav’s equalizer for Stuttgart shortly after, Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger restored the lead with a header in the 83rd minute.
Endrick, another debutant, sealed the win with a decisive strike in stoppage time.
Stuttgart initially seemed to have the upper hand, dominating the first half with a series of threatening chances.
Despite their efforts, including a shot from Enzo Millot that was expertly saved by Thibaut Courtois, Stuttgart couldn’t break through.
At the other end, Mbappe had two efforts denied by Stuttgart’s Alexander Nubel, and a potential penalty for Madrid was overturned after a VAR review confirmed no contact had occurred.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the tough start but emphasized the importance of securing the win.
“We suffered at the start because we lost a lot of duels… the important thing was to win and we won, so everything’s good,” Ancelotti said. He noted, “You always have to fight at the start of the season, when you aren’t at your best.”
Mbappe, now with five goals in seven appearances this season, expressed his satisfaction with his performance and his adaptation to his new club.
“I know I can do more, each game I feel better and now I’m scoring goals, and I’m happy here,” Mbappe told Movistar. He added, “(The game was) hard, but it’s the Champions League — it’s always difficult, but we won at home, we won the first game.”
In Ancelotti’s tactical adjustments, Dani Carvajal was deployed in central defense due to Eder Militao’s unavailability, while Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni made their returns from injury in midfield.
The game saw Real Madrid lacking balance, a challenge compounded by Toni Kroos’s recent retirement.
The first half was marked by Stuttgart’s more aggressive play, with Millot causing trouble for Courtois and Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller also coming close. Madrid’s efforts included Rodrygo’s deflected shot and a penalty appeal that was ultimately dismissed by VAR.
The breakthrough came just 21 seconds into the second half when Mbappe, assisted by Rodrygo, found the net quickly, catching many spectators still settling back into their seats. Stuttgart managed to level the score through Undav, but Madrid’s persistence paid off with Rudiger’s header from Luka Modric’s corner in the 83rd minute.
With the match in the balance, Vinicius Junior missed a chance to put Madrid ahead, but Endrick’s late goal ensured the win.
The young Brazilian forward’s decisive strike came after he chose to shoot from distance, bypassing his more experienced teammates.
“He’s a kid with a lot of quality and he showed it,” Courtois remarked. “Obviously he showed personality by not passing to Vini or Kylian and shooting there himself.”
