Champions League winners Real Madrid opened the new Champions League with a home win over Stuttgart. But it could have ended worse for Madrid.
From the first minutes of the match, Stuttgart showed that today’s Real Madrid are an insufficiently balanced team. This is a problem that Ancelotti still has to solve and fix. The Germans’ advantage in possession reached 70% to 30%, however, by sitting in a deep positional defense, Los Blancos allowed the opponent to create scoring opportunities with ease. Thanks to the good adaptation of the players and quick passes, the German runners-up opened up Madrid’s defense through the center or the midfield.
In the first half hour, Real Madrid’s big hero was undoubtedly Courtois. The Belgian had already saved Stuttgart from an early goal in the second minute. Then, a mistake by right-back Vázquez gave Milhaud a one-on-one chance. The Frenchman forgave the hosts, but even here Thibault was a great guy: he reduced the angle of the shot and covered everything he could. Another one-on-one attempt by Stiller did not end in a goal only because Courtois reached a difficult ball with his long arm. When the Belgian was unable to save Real Madrid, his friend on the crossbar came to the goalkeeper’s aid.
Real Madrid played a 4-3-3 formation. Rodrigo and Vinicius Junior moved more to the flanks and Mbappé moved forward. It seemed like he was alone, but then Kylian suddenly “exploded” and created chances thanks to his individual skill. First through Tchuameni, then through me. Mbappé tried several times in jest with the Stuttgart defenders and struck. But his strikes lacked power and precision. They were childish puzzles for goalkeeper Nübel.
The first half, judging by the number of events, should not have ended 0-0. Instead it ended in a goalless draw. This also happens at the top level. Before the break, there were two controversial moments in the Stuttgart penalty area after Rodrigo and Rudiger fell. Turkish referee Meler ignored the first episode and awarded a penalty in the next. However, the VAR judges called the main referee to look at the video. Mehler came to the conclusion that the slight contact of the legs of Mittelstedt and Rüdiger did not actually lead to a foul. The former Stuttgart defender played too hard, making himself the victim. Well, we are waiting for a review from the Real Madrid channel after the football.
How Rüdiger furthered his career in Stuttgart:
The Real Madrid star is looking forward to a first-team game. Rüdiger left Dortmund for Stuttgart
After the break, in the first episode of the game, something happened that nobody expected. Stuttgart seemed to have forgotten that they had come out for the second half! Real broke the Germans’ uncomfortable pressure thanks to Tchuameni’s miraculous pass into the free zone, where Rodrigo was already running. The German national team defender Mittelstedt was less quick than the Brazilian, and the right winger of the “creamy” team showed the generosity of a great player in the opponent’s penalty area. Rodrigo headed towards Mbappé’s empty goal: Kylian scored and immediately thanked his teammate. He showed with a gesture who was the real author of Real’s goal.
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Overall, we saw nothing new. The good Real Madrid are back, and they make the most of the minimum even on bad days. Stuttgart found it harder to control the game in the open. The Spanish champions responded quickly and Vinicius Junior soon had the chance to score the second goal. But now the crossbar saved Stuttgart after the Brazilian’s shot.
Two changes after an hour gave Stuttgart energy. Coach Sebastian Hoenes was perfect with them, changing the loose links. A short period of pressure midway through the half, coupled with a set piece, still gave the Germans a goal back. Midfielder Levelling played brilliantly in the box, deciding the moment with two touches: he took the ball on his chest and crossed towards goal. Undav scored with a header. There were still doubts about the possibility of offside, but modern technology confirmed that there was none.
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The ending of this film was quite cinematic. Real suffered, was brought down by a missed goal. “Stuttgart” recovered with its objective: to press again. But in the 83rd minute, Rüdiger entered the opponent’s area from a set piece and scored against his former team. Header, courtesy of the fresh-faced Modric. In addition, German goalkeeper Nübel made a mistake in the exit.
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This is real. There is nothing to add here. In the 90th minute, Ancelotti’s team was inferior to Hoenes’ team in shots on goal (6:7), but they made better use of their chances and won. And in added time, the home team launched a five-on-three counterattack and Endrik scored the third goal. It is true that the young Brazilian was very lucky that the ball from Nübel’s hands went into the net, because he was clearly greedy: he shot instead of passing.
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I wonder if Ancelotti will praise Endrick or scold him a little.
