| Odds via 22bet | |
| Real Madrid vs VfB Stuttgart | September 17, 21:00 GMT+1 |
| Real Madrid odds | 1.28 |
| VfB Stuttgart odds | 9.1 |
| Draw | 6.1 |
| Over\Under | Total 2,5: 1.35/2.94 |
It’s Champions League time – a tournament that many call “Real Madrid’s competition.” No club has owned the tournament like Los Blancos, but this year, things could look different. With a new format in place, Real Madrid will be navigating unfamiliar territory.
There is no doubt that the Spaniards will continue to prioritize the Champions League. However, their recent form in La Liga has been less than stellar, placing extra pressure on their European campaign.
Kylian Mbappé’s transfer came with excessive expectations, much to the dismay of Rodrygo, who, according to recent reports, seems discontent with the lack of recognition in his eyes.
Despite these off-pitch distractions, Real Madrid remains unbeaten in all competitions. Two teams managed to get away with a 1-1 draw (Mallorca & Las Palmas). Real Sociedad, despite playing well, lost 2-0 against Real Madrid in a match where refereeing decisions once again sparked debates and provoked controversy on social media.
The return of Jude Bellingham, who has been sidelined through injury, could be pivotal in improving the team’s midfield creativity. His absence has been keenly felt.
Meanwhile, controversy surrounds the club as some of the “injured” players returned to training during the international break, casting doubt over the legitimacy of these injuries and sparking speculation that they were merely avoiding international duty.
| Recent Form | DWDWW |
| Key Player to Watch | Federico Valverde |
| Team Strengths | Counter-attacks, fast transitions |
| Team Weaknesses | Lack of socio-affective relationships on the pitch, as well as a lack of certainty when defending. The absence of movement between the lines is felt without Jude Bellingham. |
| Key injuries and suspensions. | David Alaba, Dani Ceballos. Aurélien Tchouaméni (doubtful), Jude Bellingham (doubtful) |
Stuttgart has been a relative newbie in the Champions League in recent years, but their rise is remarkable, especially when considering that they were in the 2. Bundesliga not long ago. Their European ventures have been commendable, though Bayer Leverkusen’s campaigns often outshine them.
However, Stuttgart’s start of the 2024/25 campaign has been mixed. In the opener, they lost against Freiburg (3-1), then drew against Mainz in a six-goal thriller (3-3), and went on to claim their first victory of the season in the Bundesliga against Mönchengladbach (3-1).
This is the form they bring to the daunting Santiago Bernabéu, where they will clash with Real Madrid.
A key reason for Stuttgart’s shaky start is the departure of their star striker, Serhou Guirassy, who joined Borussia Dortmund in the summer transfer window.
Many non-elite clubs struggle with adjusting to life without a striker who reached extraordinary figures in front of goal, and VfB Stuttgart is no exception.
Nonetheless, the club has bolstered its attack with incoming players like Deniz Undav, El Bilal Touré (Loan), and Ermedin Demirović. These reinforcements should help compensate for the goals lost with Guirassy’s exit, especially as Stuttgart has already scored seven goals in their first three Bundesliga matches.
Historically, German teams have found it tough to beat Real Madrid, especially at the Bernabéu, as RB Leipzig can attest, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see VfB Stuttgart fail to grasp points in Madrid.
| Recent Form | LDW |
| Key Player to Watch | Maximilian Mittelstädt |
| Team Strengths | Left-wing attacks, fast-paced football |
| Team Weaknesses | Lack of defensive solidity, a volatile rest defense. New partnerships are being formed, and therefore the team still lacks some mechanisms without Guirassy. |
| Key injuries and suspensions. | Ameen Al-Dakhil (doubtful), Leonidas Stergiou, Frans Krätzig, Nikolas Nartey, Justin Diehl, Anthony Roault (doubtful) |
This is the first time the two teams meet because, as previously mentioned, Stuttgart only recently entered the Champions League. This is a first for the two teams, with the first tie taking place at the Bernabéu.
Bet hereAs both teams are stacked with quality – the reason that the two teams are in the Champions League – pointing out one specific player for these two teams is a rather difficult task.
For Real Madrid, most readers would expect to read Vinicius Jr’s name, but his lack of consistency, whether with Brazil or Real Madrid, is unusual for him.
He wasn’t particularly brilliant against Real Sociedad despite the 2-0 victory, which is why I refuse to choose him. Jude Bellingham would’ve been an easy choice, but his uncertainty for this game forces me to come up with new names.
Fede Valverde is a name rarely mentioned but deserves to be considered. As the upcoming game is likely to be open in its defensive traits (typical for German football), Valverde will have no problem finding free spaces.
As a Swiss knife in the midfield, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Uruguayan link up with his teammates, accelerate play, and continue to be a defensive superpower.
Last season, Guirassy would have been the obvious name to choose for VfB Stuttgart. However, after the striker’s departure to Dortmund, few options present themselves.
It’s tempting to choose Demirović, who scored a brace against M’Gladbach, or Undav, who also scored in that game. However, as they’re the “obvious” targets for Rüdiger and his partner in the defense, there are plenty of reasons to believe Mittelstädt should be the man Real Madrid should be wary of.
Mittelstädt’s 2023/24 campaign was more than worthy, and he showed with the German national team that he’s a left-back who can dominate the wing by himself. As someone who could accelerate play during transitions in the wings, he’s one of the reasons Real Madrid might think twice before attacking on the wing.
Emotionally, it’s clear to every football fan that Stuttgart is expected to struggle.
A first time in the Bernabéu against a Real Madrid that now includes Kylian Mbappé will always be scary. Los Blancos will be fueled by their home crowd, while Stuttgart will need to quickly adapt to one of the most intimidating environments in football.
From a tactical standpoint, Stuttgart’s best hope lies in keeping the game open and playing with the athleticism that defines German football. Their strength and speed could offer some advantage in transitions, but the key will be limiting mistakes.
Real Madrid, under Carlo Ancelotti, thrives on capitalizing on opponents’ errors, especially through their intense pressing game. If Stuttgart’s players aren’t mentally prepared for the pressure, a single mistake could shift the momentum heavily in Madrid’s favor.
Considering both Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. are unhappy with their current form, Stuttgart cannot allow itself to continue playing with a leaky defence. Mittelstädt will undoubtedly be the team’s joker, and the question is whether Ancelotti would trust Dani Carvajal to win the 1v1, considering his physical decline and it is likely to see Éder Militão eventually help him out.
Most of VfB Stuttgart’s forwards are unfamiliar with the big stage. If they can continue dropping between the two center-backs to split them, it would give the team a big edge. It cannot be forgotten that Rüdiger tends to engage in relentless man-marking.
Real Madrid is largely favoured by the sportsbooks, and it’s not hard to see why. Historically, newcomers to the Santiago Bernabéu in the Champions League often struggle, and Stuttgart will likely experience the same on Tuesday. The Germans lost their best striker, and are still struggling to keep a clean sheet.
Despite all the difficulties that come with Jude Bellingham’s absence, Real Madrid will have the psychological edge, considering Mbappé, Valverde, and especially Rüdiger will pressure Stuttgart and tilt the game in Real Madrid’s favour.
There are no certainties in football. There are priorities, though, such as matches made in heaven – like Real Madrid and a Tuesday night under the umbrella of the Champions League at the Bernabéu. Anything else than a clear victory would be surprising.
It’s hard to see VfB scoring, given the presence of Rüdiger, a proven defender who despite his mistakes is a headache for many strikers – including Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
Real Madrid’s offensive power, combined with Stuttgart’s poor defensive record so far in the Bundesliga, leads to the thought that they will crumble under the pressure of the Santiago Bernabéu.
Stuttgart’s reliance on transitions will likely falter, as they are unlikely to maintain enough possession to truly threaten Real Madrid’s game plan, both offensively and defensively.
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