Kylian Mbappe marked his Champions League debut for Real Madrid with a goal as the reigning champions began their title defense with a 3-1 victory over Stuttgart on Tuesday. Mbappe opened the scoring early in the second half, bringing his season tally to five goals in seven appearances across all competitions.
Despite a lively start from Stuttgart, who dominated much of the first half, Madrid capitalized on their chances to secure the win. Defender Antonio Rudiger restored Madrid’s lead with a powerful header in the 83rd minute after Deniz Undav had briefly equalized for Stuttgart just seconds into the second half. Endrick, another debutant in the competition, sealed the victory with a composed finish in stoppage time.
Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the team’s early struggles but was pleased with the outcome, saying, “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.”
Mbappe, who continues to settle in at Madrid, expressed his satisfaction with the result and his form, telling Movistar, “I know I can do more, each game I feel better, and now I’m scoring goals, and I’m happy here.”
Madrid’s squad saw some adjustments, with Dani Carvajal playing in central defense due to Eder Militao’s absence, and Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni returning from injuries to anchor the midfield. The game was a back-and-forth affair under the lights at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Stuttgart posing a significant threat, particularly through French midfielder Enzo Millot, whose long-range effort forced a key save from Thibaut Courtois.
Despite Stuttgart’s strong performance, Madrid’s resilience and clinical finishing ensured they took all three points, starting their Champions League campaign on the right foot.
Kylian Mbappe’s relentless search for his first Champions League goal for Real Madrid finally paid off early in the second half of their 3-1 victory over Stuttgart. Though he had two earlier attempts saved by Alexander Nubel, the breakthrough came just 21 seconds after the interval when Rodrygo set him up with an unselfish pass. Many fans missed the goal, still returning from halftime breaks, as the French striker quickly found the back of the net.
Despite Madrid’s advantage, Stuttgart remained determined. Vinicius Junior rattled the crossbar with a powerful shot before Stuttgart equalized through Deniz Undav, who headed home from a Jamie Leweling assist after Madrid failed to clear a corner.
As the clock ticked down, Carlo Ancelotti brought on 18-year-old Brazilian striker Endrick in the final 10 minutes, looking for a winning goal. The decisive moment came from an unlikely source, as defender Antonio Rudiger nodded in Luka Modric’s corner in the 83rd minute, restoring Madrid’s lead.
Vinicius missed a late chance to extend the lead, but Endrick made no mistake with his only opportunity, firing from the edge of the box in stoppage time to seal the win. The young forward surprised Nubel with an early strike, opting not to pass to more experienced teammates. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois praised the teenager, saying, “He’s a kid with a lot of quality and he showed it.”
The win gave Real Madrid the perfect start to their Champions League campaign, with Mbappe’s goal marking a significant milestone in his journey at the club.
“Obviously he showed personality by not passing to Vini or Kylian and shooting there himself.”
