Real Madrid vs Stuttgart

Real Madrid’s title-defending UEFA Champions League campaign gets underway at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu against Stuttgart.

After beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in last term’s final to lift a record-extending 15th Champions League title, Real Madrid commence the league phase campaign against another German club. Carlo Ancelotti’s men have grown familiar with Bundesliga clubs, going unbeaten in all seven matches against such opposition in 2023/24 (W5, D2). Two second-half penalties helped Los Blancos see off Real Sociedad 2-0 at the weekend for their third win in five La Liga matches this season (D2), bolstering their spirits ahead of this clash. The Spaniards will expect nothing less than three points as they return to the Santiago Bernabeu, where they’ve not lost in the Champions League since April 2022 (W10, D3). On top of that, they’ve only suffered one defeat in their last 23 home encounters against German visitors at Europe’s top table (W17, D5).

Stuttgart defied all expectations last term to secure a runner-up finish in the Bundesliga and, in turn, ensure their first Champions League appearance since 2009/10. The Germans will hope history won’t repeat itself as they went winless in all four matches against Spanish opposition that year (D2, L2). With more high-profile games against PSG and Juventus on the horizon, Sebastian Hoeness’ men need a positive start. Confidence stems from scoring six times across their last two Bundesliga outings (W1, D1), though they must address their uninspiring away record in Europe’s elite club competition (W2, D3, L6) to get off to a decent start. No strangers to winning in these parts, Stuttgart thumped Getafe 3-0 in the 2010/11 UEFA Europa League.