Champions: Rüdiger and Courtois save a Madrid that only understands Europe from agony

Madrid landed in the new Champions with suffering and agony, as if the future format were no different from the previous one. That’s how he won before, that’s how he wins now. He beat a tough Stuttgart after a goal from Ruediger In 1983, between tremors and doubts, he sentenced Endrick and before Mbappe y Undav had drawn. The Chamartín team has three points (3-1) and can breathe a sigh of relief.

The whites, current European and League champions, have been transformed in a few months. The team has gone from being a solid colossus with star performers to being nothing more than the sum of its individualities. It is not the same. At least for now. Emotionally it is understandable due to the little time to disconnect, but a month has passed since the official debut and Ancelotti does not find that Madrid that is the image and likeness of his idea. He left Kroosarrive Mbappe and that template that was a Swiss watch cannot find itself.

There is no substitute for Kroos because something like that is impossible, but the alternative has not appeared. Against Stuttgartin the continental debut in this eternal and new Champions League, Madrid was again predictable and erratic in the ball output and slow and distant from its rival in the defensive transition. The first may be logical due to the Kroos’ absenceWhat used to flow now goes in fits and starts, but the latter was Ancelotti’s hallmark. Courtois he became the hero again.

The Belgian made four key saves in a delirious first half, in which Stuttgart had several chances to score, but crashed into the goalkeeper and the crossbar. Leweling, Millot y Stiller They almost scored in the first 15 minutes, with Madrid broken in the midfield, weak in the first line of pressure and lazy when it came to running back. The position of Carvajal As a centre-back, replacing an ailing Militao, he did not help the solvency of a disjointed defence.

In attack, the whites lived off the starts of Rodrygothe best, but they were not fine against Nubelespecially Mbappewho wasted some one-on-one opportunities. On the left, Vinicius was again far from his best and lost some dangerous balls, such as the one that ended up on the post Undav in the 27th minute after a counterattack that caused Ancelotti to lose his nerve.

In the final stretch of the first half, the home team improved, more through impetus than football. Bellingham He took on the lead in the attack, receiving the ball with his back to the goal and turning around to break the lines, and Madrid came closer to the opponent’s goal.

In 32, the referee Angels He awarded a penalty of Mittelstadt a Rüdigerbut the VAR warned him to consult the screen and disallowed it. Fatigue seemed to be weighing down the Germans and Madrid grew, but did not take advantage of their moment.

After the break, Ancelotti benched Lucas, brought on MilitaryCarvajal returned to the right wing and the eleven made more sense. At that moment, fate gifted him the 1-0. Tchouaméni put a ball into space RodrygoMittelstadt failed to cut the ball and the Brazilian was planted in the area, where he passed to Mbappe for the Frenchman to score his first goal in the Champions League.

The goal shocked Stuttgart and Madrid could have sealed the win, but they were not sharp. Mbappé, from the edge of the area, and Rodrygo, who got confused when finishing, did not make it 2-0 and the Whites suffered from it. The German team woke up and Courtois had to appear again with several saves.

Vinicius hit the crossbar, but Stuttgart continued to test the ball hero Courtois until the Belgian could not take it anymore. From a corner, Undav beat the goalkeeper, who was exposed in the middle of a defense that was failing.

Between tremors and doubts, Ruediger rose in a corner of Modric and scored the second goal, saving a difficult night. One more in a competition that Madrid, which is currently grey, only understands through suffering and agony. Endrickwith a missile, sentenced the game at the end. Three points and work ahead.

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