Madrid: Real Madrid (RM), the reigning European champions, secured a 3-1 victory over VfB Stuttgart (VfB) in their opening match of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) in Madrid on Tuesday.
Throughout the game, Real Madrid faced challenges, yet they managed to clinch the win. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring, followed by Antonio Rudiger's second goal, and a late goal from Endrick secured the victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The team appeared to be far from their peak performance, yet they were able to overcome these obstacles and emerge victorious.
VfB Stuttgart initially had the upper hand, with Thibaut Courtois making several crucial saves.
In the 28th minute, Deniz Undav's shot was deflected off the bar. Real Madrid thought they were awarded a penalty just before halftime, following a foul on Rudiger, but the decision was reversed after the referee deemed Rudiger had been down too easily.
The game took a turn shortly after halftime. Real Madrid surprised Stuttgart with a well-executed play, with Aurelien Tchouameni passing to Rodrygo, who then set up Mbappe for a goal from close range.
Stuttgart equalized when Undav's shot was headed in.
Real Madrid regained their lead with a header from Rudiger and secured the win with a goal from Endrick in stoppage time. Endrick's goal not only tied the score but also made him the youngest scorer in the history of the Champions League for Madrid.
This season introduces a new format for the UCL. A total of 36 clubs from Europe's top football leagues will compete in a league phase, which has replaced the conventional group stage. Each team will face eight different opponents over eight matches, ensuring an equal distribution of home and away games.
The result of each match will have a profound effect on the standings of the league table. The top eight teams will be granted automatic advancement to the UCL round of 16.
Teams that finish between the 9th and 24th positions will participate in a two-legged knockout play-off phase, with the victors securing the remaining eight spots in the round of 16. Conversely, teams that finish below the 24th position will be eliminated from the competition.
Olympics.com reports that the knockout stages will commence in February. The grand final is scheduled for May 31, 2025, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. (ANI)
