“We can’t crap our pants,” Deniz Undav had insisted and Stuttgart did not, nor did they beat Europe’s most terrifying, seemingly indestructible team. Because if the striker was right to state that ‘if you fear Real Madrid because it is Real Madrid, you do not need even to fly’, if he got his opportunity, scoring the header that represented the goal, which augured an even more enchanting night, and if his team continued the battle on their return to the Champions League fifteen years later, the score was the same. It is one thing not to be overwhelmed, let alone outplay, and another thing to actually defeat the club that deems this championship its own.
For much of an enjoyable night of 37 shots and loose terrain, Stuttgart were only better than their acclaimed rivals. He made a good finish of the game by their coach Sebastian Hoeness, where he said it was an “unforgettable moment” and a “great game with many opportunities that we have provided them” as they gave “evidence of our courage and football.” They went to the most symbol of all and conceded a goal to Kylian Mbappé’s first European goal for Madrid. However, equalizing with twenty minutes remaining, Undav had gone for the other, and they would have probably gotten it too.
Nevertheless, Real Madrid are, well, Real Madrid, and so it was that, with seven minutes left on the clock, co-founder Antonio Rüdiger headed in a corner that sent this their way. And, with Stuttgart still attacking ruthlessly, teenager Endrick accelerated into added time to seal it, 3-1 at home.
Stuttgart was completely on top for the first ten minutes of the game; the ball possession was even 72% of the time. On twenty, it was 70%. It would even out—the final figure was 54%—but Courtois had come to Madrid’s rescue three times already and he would have to do so again. Before the break, Enzo Millot overpowered a one-on-one wide; Leweling was prevented, and the same applied to Millot. While Chris Führich and Diegoalos Undav did nicely to exchange a pass, Angelo Stiller had only the goalkeepers to beat when he started a move. Hoots from the stands were the delights; Madrid has been frustrated. Except this is kind of what they do—a narrative, or rather a story that’s been told time and time before.
And it will remain so, because the closest Stuttgart got was as the beast started to wake up, a Vinícius Júnior speed burst, an Mbappé acceleration and a Rodrygo run before Undav shot in what may have been an alerted Tchouaméni, and the ball hit the bar. This was fun; only half an hour was gone by. Madrid then got a penalty, only for the referee to be called to the VAR screen, where, with Jude Bellingham waiting on the spot, he saw that Stiller’s swipe had not actually hit Rüdiger.
Another was created for Millot; Courtois intervened again and Bellingham’s ball could have freed Mbappé. Pumped up and ready to go, Madrid were definitely ‘in it now’ and no matter that there were no goals in the first half, one came in the first twenty seconds of the second half. It was a neat interchange that freed up Rodrygo on the right flank and he laid the ball for Mbappé to slot past the goalkeeper into an open net from where he scored his 49th Champions League goal. It could have been 50 immediately afterward. This time, Nübel saved.
Vinícius then struck the bar and it seemed all the odds and ends were set in motion. And yet Stuttgart were not ready to let this simply slip away; they were right to believe in their capabilities to go on slicing Madrid. Leweling threatened the Chelsea goal twice in three minutes, fetching two saves from Courtois. Next he dashed free but could not put the final pass beyond Rüdiger, who was isolated in front of the goalkeeper. Then he missed a clear opportunity, which was provided by Atakan Karazor.
It is possible to only experience the frustration, but it is over in a flash. By taking a corner kick from Fabian Rieder, the ball was passed to Leweling, who was in the second half. He controlled on his chest perfectly and volleyed back across the six-yard box for which Undav duly did head the equaliser. The fortune had followed the brave for a while, though, and Rüdiger and Endrick put an end to the dreams. For Stuttgart, it had certainly been worth getting on the flight, their coach boasting that he had players who would not shirk from the challenge and the fans singing as the rest of this stadium quite literally left the building. They had enjoyed their return; some fates, however, are to be accepted.
Related posts:
