Real Madrid vs VfB Stuttgart Prediction, Preview, Lineups and Team News | Champions League, September 17, 2024

Real Madrid vs VfB Stuttgart Preview

Date: Tuesday, September 17

Kick-off Time: 7 pm GMT

Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

Real Madrid begin the defense of their Champions League title on Tuesday against VfB Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu. It’s their first game of the revamped system which sees every side play eight games, two more than what they used to until last season.

Having romped to their 15th crown last season at Wembley, Los Blancos are looking to make more history by becoming the first side ever to retain it on multiple occasions. However, the road to the final is a long one, with some big sides coming their way ahead.

On matchday one, though, Carlo Ancelotti’s swashbuckling team will be up against minnows Stuttgart, who return to the Champions League for the first time since 2010.

Led by the peerless Deniz Undav, the Red Army finished in second place in the 2023-24 Bundesliga, even ahead of Bayern Munich, in what was truly a memorable campaign for them.

Real Madrid Team News

The defending champions are walking wounded right now as many of their players are currently out injured. This includes Brahim Diaz, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos and David Alaba. But on the bright side, Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham have returned to full training and could get a start here.

VfB Stuttgart Team News

Frans Kratzig, Ameen Al Dakhil, and Nikolas Nartey are out injured whereas Leonidas Stergiou is doubtful for the visitors. Deniz Undav should start as the lone man up top despite his struggles this season and Bayern Munich loanee Alexander Nubel is likely to be the choice in goal for the clash.

Also Read: Monza vs Inter Milan Prediction, Preview, Lineups and Team News | Serie A, September 15, 2024

Real Madrid vs VfB Stuttgart Predicted Lineups

Real Madrid Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper – Thibaut Courtois

Defenders – Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, Edouard Mendy

Midfielders – Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni

Forwards – Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe

VfB Stuttgart Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper – Alexander Nubel

Defenders – Pascal Stenzel, Anrie Chase, Jeff Chabot, Maximilian Mittelstadt

Midfielders – Atakan Karazor, Angelo Stiller

Forwards – Jamie Leweling, Enzo Millot, Chris Fuhrich, Deniz Undav

Real Madrid vs VfB Stuttgart Head-To-Head

Interestingly, this will be the first encounter between the sides in Champions League history. However, Real Madrid are no strangers to playing German teams, having played 82 games against them throughout their history, and winning on exactly 50% of the occasions (41). On the other hand, Stuttgart have played Spanish teams 15 times in total, winning only four.

Key Players to watch in Real Madrid vs VfB Stuttgart

Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)

Kylian Mbappe will play his first Champions League game as a Real Madrid player, and all eyes will be on him. The Frenchman made his long-anticipated transfer to Los Blancos from PSG this summer on a Bosman. Since then, he’s enjoyed a good start to life with the Spanish giants, netting four times. He famously scored on his debut in the UEFA Supercup against Atalanta and has bagged three more in La Liga since the start of the competition. Mbappe will be eager to add to his tally here, against a new opposition, in a new competition, with a new side.

Deniz Undav (VfB Stuttgart)

Following a memorable loan spell last season wherein he scored 18 goals for Stuttgart that helped them secure Champions League football, the Bundesliga side signed him on a permanent transfer. So far, he’s struck just once in four games: against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024 DFL-Supercup. Now in their biggest game of the season yet, the Reds will need him to bring his A-1 game as they aim to pull off a miracle at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid vs VfB Stuttgart Prediction

Real Madrid are the favorites coming into the fixture, given their stature, experience and quality. However, Los Blancos have shown a tendency to slip up in such games during the group stages of the competition before, and tend to lack their usual aggression in the first few games too. Going by that trend, we are expecting the Whites to struggle, but to come away victorious nonetheless.

Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 VfB Stuttgart (Watch Live)

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