Real Madrid Triumphs 3-1 Against Stuttgart In Champions League Opener With Late Goals

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Real Madrid kicked off their Champions League defence with a challenging 3-1 victory over Stuttgart at home. Late goals from Antonio Rudiger and Endrick secured the win. Despite being last season's Bundesliga runners-up, Stuttgart dominated for much of the match at Santiago Bernabeu, threatening to upset the 15-time European champions.

Thibaut Courtois, Madrid's goalkeeper, was instrumental in keeping the score level with crucial saves against Jamie Leweling and Angelo Stiller before halftime. Dani Carvajal also played a key role by deflecting a Deniz Undav shot onto his own crossbar. Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock shortly after the break, finishing from close range following Rodrygo's swift counterattack.

Stuttgart remained resilient and seemed poised for a remarkable result when Undav equalised in the 68th minute. He headed Leweling's cross into the net, unmarked at the far post. However, Real Madrid showcased their typical late-game prowess in Europe as Rudiger headed Luka Modric's corner home in the 83rd minute.

In stoppage time, Endrick sealed the victory by catching Alexander Nubel off guard with a long-range effort, marking his first Champions League goal. At just 18 years and 58 days old, Endrick became Real Madrid's youngest scorer in Champions League history, surpassing Raul Gonzalez Blanco's previous record set in 1995.

Veteran Experience Shines

Luka Modric played a pivotal role after coming off the bench when Los Blancos were struggling at 1-1. His expertly delivered corner led to Rudiger's decisive goal. At 39 years and eight days old, Modric became the third-oldest player to assist in a Champions League match. Only Ryan Giggs and Amadeo Carboni have done so at an older age.

The blend of youthful energy and veteran experience proved crucial for Real Madrid as they overcame Stuttgart's spirited challenge. The team's ability to draw on both ends of this spectrum allowed them to secure all three points in their opening match of this year's competition.