Champions League: Antonio Rüdiger sends strong VfB Stuttgart home without a point

VfB Stuttgart showed its Champions League class, but felt the winning gene of Real Madrid. Antonio Rüdiger deprived the German runners-up of a deserved point in the 1:3 (0:0) defeat, and Endrick made it the final score in injury time. Deniz Undav had previously equalized Kylian Mbappé’s lead with a header.

The many thousands of fans who had travelled with the team also honoured the strong performance and celebrated their team long after the final whistle. “This is unique, I will never forget what happened here today”said VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß on “AmazonPrime”. “I’m disappointed because we played bravely and lost on a set piece. But we managed to play our football here and we can be proud of that. But that feeling will only come later.”

Many VfB chances in the early stages

It was just 469 days ago that Stuttgart managed to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga at the last minute in the relegation play-off against Hamburger SV. Now Hoeneß’s team will be on the biggest stage in professional football on Tuesday: the Champions League at the Bernabeu, the home of Real Madrid.

The fact that it had only been 100 days since the Royals won the Champions League for the sixth time in ten years further highlighted how different the two clubs are – and how special this occasion is for VfB.

VfB Stuttgart’s CL games at a glance

And he used the floor to show his football from the very first moment. Stuttgart played with courage, dominated the opening phase with a lot of possession – and had the first chance. Jamie Leweling had a shot from close range, but because the angle was very tight, Thibaut Courtois was able to parry it (2′). It was only later that Madrid’s offense also made itself known, but Aurelien Tchouameni missed from a promising position after a pass from Mbappé (7′).

But the chance was even better for Enzo Millot, who had moved into the starting eleven for Gladbach’s double-goal scorer Ermedin Demirovic. After winning the ball high, Deniz Undav passed it to him, but the French U21 international narrowly missed the goal from a free position (9th minute). A little later, Courtois had to intervene again against Leweling (11th minute) and Millot (14th minute).

Stuttgart played outstanding football – which culminated in a great chance for Angelo Stiller, where Courtois once again showed his class. VfB had combined in countless ways across the entire pitch and sent Stiller free in front of goal, but one of the best goalkeepers in the world was standing there (17′).

Undav hits the crossbar and phantom foul on Rüdiger

One of the best field players then showed why he belongs to the footballing elite. Mbappé moved from the left side into the middle, gave two opponents no chance and flicked the ball towards the far corner – but Alexander Nübel, like his counterpart, was able to parry it strongly (26th). But Stuttgart’s response was not long in coming – and the goal came ever closer. Undav shot from 18 meters and his shot was deflected so dangerously that it landed on the crossbar (29th).

The game now had an incredible pace and a variety of chances on both sides, which made the score of 0:0 absurd. Rodrygo had the next great chance, but a Stuttgart player’s leg prevented the goal (31′). And then there was the next explosive moment: after an alleged foul by Maximilian Mittelstädt, Real was awarded a penalty – but the Stuttgart player had not hit Antonio Rüdiger at all, and the whistle was revoked (36′).

Real started too quickly for VfB

The first half was fast-paced, but it was nothing compared to the start of the second half. The Madrid high-speed train needed just 22 seconds to score the first goal. Tchouameni served Rodrygo with a long ball, whose cross pass Mbappé only had to push into the empty goal (46th minute). An ice-cold shower for the Stuttgart team, who, like so many Real opponents, were punished for not taking advantage of their own chances.

And Madrid wanted to score again straight away. Rodrygo missed the chance to make it 2-0 shortly afterwards, but Führich’s face prevented the goal at the last moment (51′). The Royal team now had control of the game and repeatedly had promising attacks, but they were missing the final pass – until Vinicius Jr. hit the crossbar from 16 meters after a pass from Dani Carvajal (59′).

Undav breaks the Courtois spell

Almost in return, Courtois was the winner for the third time in a personal duel against Leweling (60th minute) – and many were reminiscent of last season’s Champions League final, when Borussia Dortmund were better for a long time, had many chances, the Belgian goalkeeper kept Madrid in the game and his colleagues then settled the game with two goals.

Nevertheless, the opportunity brought about a turnaround in the game, Stuttgart had found the key again – and finally rewarded themselves. After a corner, Leweling shot the ball onto the head of Undav, who thoughtfully scored against the direction of Courtois’s run (68′).

Rüdiger creates the moment

VfB is now not only behind, but even closer to victory. Hoeneß’s team continued to play forward, pushing for the lead, while the Real superstars were nowhere to be seen. But then Stuttgart felt the full brutality of the Madrilenians again. Luka Modric brought a corner into the penalty area with great feeling and Rüdiger ensured that the hosts were back in the lead – and the opening victory for the defending champions (83′).

And it was also one of those moments that just happened. Rüdiger played for VfB from 2011 to 2015, was in the U19 team and became a professional. But now he celebrated wildly against his former club, who came away from the match without any points despite a great performance. But it is not only Madrid that Stuttgart will have on their list for the next few Champions League matches. Endrick’s goal in the fifth minute of injury time does not change that.

“We have definitely gained a lot of experience at the highest level and can take a lot of positives with us. We will soon be competing in the Champions League again and then try to do better.”said Hoeness.