Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart score: UEFA Champions League result, stats, highlights as Mbappe rescues Los Blancos from danger

Real Madrid began their UEFA Champions League title defence with a 3-1 victory over Stuttgart on Tuesday — a scoreline that certainly did not tell the full story of the game.

The first day of Matchday 1 of the new league phase format , which has been introduced for 2024/25 as part of an expanded tournament, saw Kylian Mbappe make his first appearance in the tournament for Los Blancos against a side who had not featured in this competition in 14 years.

It was Mbappe who fittingly broke the deadlock less than a minute into the second half, but that was only after Stuttgart had largely dominated proceedings and only been denied an opening goal of their own thanks to good goalkeeping from Thibaut Courtois and a bad miss from Enzo Millot.

Yet last season's Bundesliga runners-up did not allow the setback of Mbappe's 49th Champions League goal to throw them off their game, and they fully deserved the leveller when it came via a clever header from former Brighton & Hove Albion striker Deniz Undav.

Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart as it happened | The key stats from Real Madrid 3-1 Stuttgart

Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart score

Confirmed lineups:

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Thibaut Courtois (GK) — 17. Lucas Vazquez (3 Eder Militao) , 2. Dani Carvajal, 22. Antonio Rudiger, 23. Ferland Mendy (20. Fran Garcia) — 8. Federico Valverde, 14. Aurelien Tchouameni (10. Luka Modric) — 11. Rodrygo (15. Arda Guler) , 5. Jude Bellingham (16. Endrick) , 7. Vinicius Junior — 9. Kylian Mbappe

Stuttgart (4-3-3, right to left): 33. Alexander Nubel (GK) — 4. Josha Vagnoman (45. Anrie Chase) , 29. Anthony Rouault (23. Dan-Axel Zagadou) , 24. Jeff Chabot, 7. Maximilian Mittelstadt — 16. Atakan Karazor, 6. Angelo Stiller, 18. Jamie Leweling — 8. Enzo Millot (9. Ermedin Demirovic) , 26. Deniz Undav (10. El Bilal Toure) , 27. Chris Fuhrich (32. Fabian Rieder)

Of course, any team with limited experience in the Champions League eventually has to learn that, more often than not, Real Madrid find a way. They did to with seven minutes left of normal time, Antonio Rudiger heading home a corner from Luka Modric to break the hearts of his former club.

In the dying seconds, Champions League debutant Endrick raced clear on the counter-attack and fizzed in a low shot that goalkeeper Alexander Nubel really should have done more to keep out.

The result should not detract from the quality of Stuttgart's performance, and nor should it disguise what was at times a disjointed and ineffective display from Carlo Ancelotti's team. However, with Jude Bellingham back playing after injury, Mbappe on the scoresheet and three points secured, this was a positive outcome to an off-day.

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Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart stats

Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart live updates, highlights, and commentary

Fulltime: Real Madrid 3-1 Stuttgart

Endrick's goal is the final act of the game. Real Madrid start their Champions League defence with a 3-1 win over Stuttgart. It's really unfair on the visitors, who were so impressive for long spells, but... well, this is just what Real Madrid do.

90+5 mins: GOAL! ENDRICK DOES SEAL IT! Madrid counter after Stuttgart had sent everyone up for a free-kick. Endrick runs from his own half and decides to shoot from the edge of the box. Nubel should do better, but he can only parry it into the bottom corner. It's a Champions League debut goal for Endrick, but it's really harsh on Stuttgart.

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90+4 mins: VINICIUS SHOULD SEAL IT! He's through on goal but can't beat Nubel, who sticks out a leg to make a good save.

90+1 mins: Atakan Karazor floats in a cross and El Bilal Toure tries to meet it with a bicycle kick, but he can't make contact. Madrid are almost there.

89 mins: Madrid have managed the game well since retaking the lead. Stuttgart are trying their best, but that goal rather took the wind out of their sails.

83 mins: GOAL! RUDIGER SCORES AGAINST HIS OLD CLUB! It's a heart-breakingly simple goal to concede for Stuttgart. Modric swings in a corner, Rudiger climbs highest in the six-yard box, and he powers in a header. Nubel came for the cross but was nowhere near it.

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80 mins: We've hit a bit of a lull now — you wonder if Stuttgart's players at least are beginning to feel the pace of the game. Right on cue, Jude Bellingham gets a rest, with Endrick on for his Champions League debut.

72 mins: Terrific defending from Rudiger to prevent Undav getting a shot away from close range. Stuttgart look the more likely to score the game's third goal.

70 mins: Luka Modric is on to try to restore some control to Madrid's play. They had this game in their grasp, but they've allowed Stuttgart back into it. This could go either way now.

68 mins: GOAL! STUTTGART ARE LEVEL! After another promising attack yielded nothing but a corner, Leweling lobs the ball back across the box, and Undav heads into the top corner! It's nothing that the visitors haven't deserved.

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59 mins: Good save, Courtois! He gets down to his right to deny Leweling's shot from the edge of the box. This contest is far from over.

46 mins: GOAL! IT HAD TO BE MBAPPE! It's a terrible start to the half for Stuttgart, who were so good in the early stages of the first. A long ball is missed by Mittelstadt, and suddenly Rodrygo has a clear run to the penalty area. He squares it for Mbappe, who has a simple finish from six yards.

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Kickoff: Second half

We're off and running again.

Halftime: Real Madrid 0-0 Stuttgart

Stuttgart started brilliantly and could easily have gone ahead, but Madrid have grown into the contest and have likewise missed chances. This game feels delicately poised.

45 mins: We're into stoppage time at the end of the half. It's all a bit tense out there now. Stuttgart have a free-kick in a promising position, but it's a bit of a waste in the end.

41 mins: Stuttgart again living dangerously by playing out from their own box, but Mbappe rather makes a mess of it.

35 mins: PENALTY MADRID! Antonio Rudiger goes down holding his ankle after Maximilian Mittelstadt swung for the ball and missed. However, replays show there was no clear contact — indeed, the full-back seemed to pull his foot back as he kicked through. After a VAR check, the decision is NO PENALTY.

31 mins: Rodrygo works space in the box and sees a shot blocked over the bar. Tchouameni has a free header from the corner, but it's straight at Nubel. Madrid are knocking on the door now.

29 mins: UNDAV HITS THE BAR! Stuttgart just about survive a Madrid attack and break swiftly. Undav tries a shot from the edge of the box, it takes a big deflection off Carvajal and bounces onto the top of the crossbar. It's end-to-end stuff right now.

25 mins: Brilliant from Mbappe to skip past Anthony Rouault, but Alexander Nubel makes a terrific save to stop him picking out the bottom corner. Madrid have definitely woken up now.

21 mins: After 21 minutes, Real Madrid have had 29% of the ball and two shots worth a combined 0.11 expected goals. They have completed 66 passes to Stuttgart's 186.

18 mins: Courtois saves Madrid again! A lovely one-touch move sees Angelo Stiller one-on-one with the keeper in the middle of the box, but Courtois does just enough to divert the shot past the post. I think it would have been disallowed for offside against Deniz Undav had it gone in, but the Belgian wasn't to know that — he's furious with his defenders, and rightly so.

16 mins: Millot tries his luck from distance and Courtois tips it over, having looked unsure whether the ball was on target or not. Stuttgart quickly win back possession after a goal kick. They have been excellent so far.

11 mins: Hoeness promised his team would come to the Bernabeu to play their game, and that's exactly what has happened so far. Leweling this time sees a mishit shot pushed past the post by Courtois, and the corner comes to nothing. Madrid have been very, very sluggish early on.

9 mins: STUTTGART SHOULD BE AHEAD! It's careless play from Lucas Vazquez in his own half and the ball breaks for Millot, who is clean through on goal but side-foots his finish wide. What a chance!

7 mins: Close from Tchouameni! Mbappe squares a low ball from the left, but the midfielder can't keep his effort down from the edge of the box. That was a decent chance, although perhaps the wrong man on the end of it.

6 mins: Rodrygo leads a quick counter but can't squeeze a pass through to Mbappe. Stuttgart have had 80 per cent of the possession so far!

3 mins: Early chance for Stuttgart! Jamie Leweling fires a deflected ball across goal from a tight angle and Thibaut Courtois has to tip it away. The visitors have started with confidence here.

Kickoff: First half

Here we go!

15 minutes before kickoff: The immaculate Stuttgart dressing room. The players will be getting ready now. It's a huge test for the German side here, not least given the number of young players in their side: five of their starting 11 are 23 years old or younger.

37 minutes before kickoff: Jude is here, and he's locked in.

1 hour before kickoff: The Stuttgart team is in. They make three changes from the weekend win at Borussia Monchengladbach: in come Anthony Rouault, Enzo Millot and Chris Fuhrich, with Anrie Chase, Fabian Rieder and, surprisingly, Ermedin Demirovic dropping out.

1 hour 20 mins before kickoff: The Stuttgart party has arrived in Madrid. This is their first Champions League game since 2010, and they're determined to enjoy the occasion.

1 hour 40 mins before kickoff: Real Madrid, as per tradition, have named their starting lineup really early! The big news is that Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni both tart after recovering from injury. Carlo Ancelotti has also mixed up the back four, with Dani Carvajal starting at centre-back and Lucas Vazquez on the right.

2 hours before kickoff: The UEFA Champions League is BACK, and it's the reigning champions who get to play on Day 1. Standing in the way of Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe are Stuttgart, who are back in the big time for the first time since 2010.

Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart kick off time

This UEFA Champions League match kicks off at the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid at 9 p.m. local time.

Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories:

Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart lineups, team news

Ancelotti has Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni back fit for this opening Champions League game and both of them are in the starting lineup.

Eduardo Camavinga is still sidelined, alongside Dani Ceballos and Brahim Diaz . Rodrygo comes back into the side, with Arda Guler dropping out.

Dani Carvajal will play this game as a makeshift centre-back, with Lucas Vazquez starting on the right of the defence.

Real Madrid starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Vazquez, Carvajal, Rudiger, Mendy — Valverde, Tchouameni — Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius — Mbappe

Real Madrid subs: Lunin, F. Gonzalez, Militao, Modric, Guler, Endrick, Vallejo, F. Garcia

Injured: Camavinga, Ceballos, Diaz, Alaba
Suspended: None

MORE: All the latest Champions League news | How does the 2024/25 Champions League work? | Real Madrid UEFA Champions League fixtures

Sebastian Hoeness deployed a 4-2-2-2 setup at Borussia Monchengladbach last time out but seems to be switching to a 4-3-3 for this fixture.

Anthony Rouault comes in at centre-back for Japanese youngster Anrie Chase , while Enzo Millot and Chris Fuhrich join Deniz Undav in attack.

Ermedin Demirovic , who has four goals in five games since signing in the offseason from Augsburg, surprisingly starts on the bench.

Stuttgart starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Nubel (GK) — Vagnoman, Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstadt — Karazor, Stiller, Leweling — Millot, Undav, Fuhrich

Stuttgart subs: Bredlow, Keitel, Demirovic, Toure, Kratzig, Stenzel, Zagadou, Rieder, Raimund, Seimen, Chase

Injured: Al-Dakhil, Frans Kratzig, Stergiou (doubt), Zagadou (doubt)
Suspended: None

Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world's major regions:

United States:

• TV channel: TUDN USA, UniMas
  Live stream: Paramount+ , Fubo , ViX, TUDN.com, Univision Now, TUDN App

This game is available on TUDN USA for live TV broadcast. Spanish-speaking viewers can catch the game on UniMas. Streaming options are available on Paramount+ , Fubo , TUDN.com, TUDN App, ViX, and Univision Now.

For a limited time, new subscribers can enjoy Paramount+ starting at $2.50 per month for 12 months! Billed annually. Stream the NFL on CBS, Champions League soccer and more. Redeem now!

Fans can stream the game live online with Fubo , which is offering a seven-day FREE trial to new subscribers.

Canada:

• TV channel: —
  Live stream: DAZN

This game is unfortunately not available for live TV Broadcast for viewers residing in Canada. Streaming options are available on DAZN .

Australia:

TV channel: —
Live stream: Stan Sport

In Australia, the Champions League clash between Real Madrid and VfB Stuttgart will be available to watch and stream live exclusively on Stan Sport . Coverage starts at 4:55 a.m. AEST.

Australian viewers can catch all 189 Champions League matches on Stan Sport this season. Additionally, they can also catch all UEFA Europa League games and UEFA Conference League fixtures on the platform.

If Real Madrid vs. VfB Stuttgart  is not available to watch live in your location or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.

India:

• TV channel: SONY TEN 1, SONY TEN 1HD
• Live stream: Sony LIV, Jio TV

Champions League matches for the 2024/25 season will largely be shown on Jio TV and Sony LIV in India.

Song LIV originally acquired the streaming rights for the UEFA Champions League in 2017, extended the right to broadcast the tournament till the end of 2026 to 2027 this year.

Every single Champions League match of the 2024/25 competition will be streamed on Sony LIV, and the televised events can also be found on JioTV.

UK:

• TV channel: TNT Sports 1
• Live stream: discovery+ , discovery+ App

Champions League matches for the 2024/25 season will largely be shown on TNT Sports and discovery+ in UK.

Meanwhile, fans can stream every single Champions League match of the 2024/25 competition on discovery+ in the UK.