Three takeaways from Real Madrid 3-1 VfB Stuttgart

Real Madrid got their |A| UEFA Champions League campaign |B| off to a perfect |C| start on Tuesday night, |D| securing a hard-fought 3-1 |E| win over VfB Stuttgart.

The |F| game was anything but |G| easy for the hosts |H| as they were made |J| to work hard for |K| the opener, which came |L| through Kylian Mbappe and |M| were even pegged back |O| with a Stuttgart equaliser |P| not long after.

An 83rd-minute |Q| header by Antonio Rudiger, |R| however, gave the team |S| the lead, helping them |U| pull apart at a |V| critical moment.

Young Endrick sealed |Y| the game in stoppage |Z| time with a wonder |A| strike from distance, once |B| again helping the team |C| gain a result that |D| does not accurately represent |E| the actual game that |F| unfolded on the field.

Madrid |G| Universal brings you three |H| takeaways from Real Madrid |J| 3-1 Stuttgart.

No Vinicius, no |K| problem

As has been the |L| norm this season, Real |M| Madrid’s performance against Stuttgart |O| was not one to |P| boast a whole lot |Q| about. The men in |R| white were under pressure |S| for long periods in |U| the game and unlucky |V| to not go behind.

Yet, |Y| one cannot deny that |Z| the team’s attack appeared |A| more potent than it |B| has in recent games |C| with several players stepping |D| up.

While there were a |E| few glimpses of his |F| quality, Vinicius Jr. continued |G| his dodgy form on |H| the night as he |J| looked isolated at times, |K| was off his dribbling |L| game and was often |M| second-best in duels. He |O| missed one big chance |P| and even hit the |Q| woodwork once.

Kylian Mbappe and |R| Rodrygo, however, delivered what |S| the team needed in |U| some style and compensated |V| for their teammate’s relatively |Y| off day.

The Frenchman recorded |Z| four shots on target, |A| had a successful dribble |B| and even forced two |C| blocked shots. His big |D| moment of the game, |E| however, was his calm |F| finish in front of |G| goal to give his |H| side the lead.

No surprises, |J| the player who assisted |K| Mbappe’s opener was Rodrygo |L| and the Brazilian was |M| equally, if not more |O| impressive. Starting on the |P| right flank, he clocked |Q| three key passes, completed |R| all five dribbles attempted |S| and created one big |U| chance.

As the icing on |V| the cake, young Endrick |Y| came on and scored |Z| an absolute golazo to set the |A| result in stone, once |B| again leaving a good |C| impression on the forward |D| department.

Thibaut Courtois comes up |E| clutch

If the forwards stepped |F| up their game in |G| the final third, the |H| defence was equally crucial |J| in helping Los Blancos to |K| a first UCL win |L| of the season.

Thibaut Courtois, |M| in particular, merits serious |O| praise for his efforts |P| in keeping Real Madrid |Q| in the game through |R| Stuttgart’s pressure.

The Belgian shot-stopper |S| made a staggering six |U| saves for Real Madrid |V| across the ninety minutes |Y| including three from inside |Z| the box. He saved |A| an xG of 0.9 |B| and ensured that the |C| Germans did not have |D| much to show for |E| their three big chances.

Courtois, |F| over the years, has |G| always been a reliable |H| asset for Real Madrid, |J| especially in Europe. Last |K| night’s game, by far, |L| was his most important |M| showing of the season |O| and it is no |P| surprise that he came |Q| up clutch in the |R| UCL once more.

Meanwhile, Carlo |S| Ancelotti fielded a makeshift |U| defence in Antonio Rudiger |V| and Dani Carvajal, both |Y| of whom clocked solid |Z| performances and struck up |A| good chemistry in defence.

Injury |B| returnees prove their worth

Real |C| Madrid still have a |D| long way to go |E| if they are to |F| return to the dominant |G| version of themselves that |H| was on display last |J| season.

The win over Stuttgart, |K| however, provides hope that |L| they can get there |M| as the team showed |O| considerable improvement from the |P| game against Real Sociedad.

Los |Q| Blancos still indeed required |R| some deal of luck |S| to get the three |U| points but they appeared |V| more stable on the |Y| field, especially in the |Z| middle of the park. |A| The two players who |B| returned from injury played |C| a big part in |D| the same.

Both Aurelien Tchouameni |E| and Jude Bellingham started |F| for Real Madrid at |G| the Santiago Bernabeu, the |H| former taking the place |J| in defensive midfield and |K| the latter sitting pretty |L| as the attacking midfielder.

Tchouameni |M| slotted back into the |O| team like he never |P| faced a stint on |Q| the sidelines, completing six |R| defensive actions and even |S| pushing forward with three |U| shots. His presence gave |V| the team stability in |Y| defending against counters and |Z| an orchestrator of the |A| play.

Bellingham, meanwhile, picked up |B| where he left off |C| with 93% pass accuracy, |D| two key passes and |E| 100% dribble completion. He |F| may not have got |G| on the scoresheet but |H| was vital in the |J| team’s buildup time and |K| time again.

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