Things haven’t quite clicked for Real Madrid yet this season, but the wins keep coming. Los Blancos were poor yet again on Tuesday, this time against Stuttgart in the Champions League, yet still scraped a result with a 3-1 win over the German side.
Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger grabbed goal, to redeem an otherwise markedly disappointing night for Carlo Ancelotti’s men, who still look a very beatable side, and a late Endrick strike eventually made things look far more comfortable than they really were.
Stuttgart enjoyed the better of the play early on, forcing Thibaut Courtois into four big saves. The visitors came even closer after 28 minutes, when Deniz Undav’s deflected strike pinged off the bar. Madrid thought they had a penalty shortly before half time after Rudiger was brought down in the box, but it was overturned after the referee deemed he went down too easily.
Madrid caught the visitors napping 30 seconds into the second half, however, as Aurelien Tchouameni found Rodrygo, who squared the ball for Mbappe, who couldn’t miss from close range. Stuttgart were good value for their equaliser, though, as Undav headed home at the back post.
The defending European champions bounced back from that disappointment, though, as Mbappe constantly threatened across the front line, while Jude Bellingham’s twists and turns created chances. It was Rudiger who grabbed the eventual winner, though, as he directed a header into the bottom corner. A stoppage-time speculative hit from Endrick then made it three as the Brazilian became the youngest Champions League scorer in Madrid history.
GOAL rates Real Madrid’s players from Santiago Bernabeu…
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Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence
Thibaut Courtois (7/10):
Made some impressive saves early on. Couldn’t do anything about Undav’s goal.
Lucas Vazquez (4/10):
Really poor defensively in the first half, and was deservedly hooked at the interval.
Dani Carvajal (6/10):
Doesn’t look comfortable at centre-back, and settled far more effectively when moved to the right after the break.
Antonio Rudiger (8/10):
Went down too easily to try win a penalty, and rightly saw it overturned. Mixed defensively, but scored the winner with a fine header.
Ferland Mendy (3/10):
Caught brutally out of position on a number of occasions to allow Stuttgart easy chances early. Made a mess of things to allow Undav’s leveller, too.
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Getty Images SportMidfield
Aurelien Tchouameni (7/10):
Not exactly solid at the base of midfield, but did put in a few important challenges when required.
Jude Bellingham (7/10):
A solid return to the pitch after a spell on the sidelines. Created a few good chances and made everything look lots of fun.
Federico Valverde (6/10):
A rare poor game. Totally frantic in the middle of the park, and really struggled to hold everything together as the visitors attacked relentlessly.
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AFPAttack
Rodrygo (7/10):
Full of energy on the right. Put two shots on target and assisted Mbappe. Played with the kind of intent of a man angered not to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
Kylian Mbappe (7/10):
Tested the keeper a few times in the first half, grabbed his deserved goal in the second.
Vinicius Jr (6/10):
Quiet until he rattled the bar in the second half. Not his most active showing.
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AFPSubs & Manager
Eder Militao (5/10):
Replaced the lacklustre Vazquez at half-time. Didn’t cover himself in glory in the Stuttgart equaliser. He’s still not at his best.
Luka Modric (8/10):
Helped up the tempo after being brought on. Assisted the winner.
Arda Guler (N/A):
No time to make an impact.
Fran Garcia (N/A):
Offered valuable energy on the left.
Endrick (N/A):
A few bright touches, before he bashed one home in stoppage time.
Carlo Ancelotti (5/10):
Got his big names back, but will be concerned by the performance once again. Madrid were too easy to play against and relied on some pretty poor finishing – as well as individual class – to wrap up a win.
