Real Madrid vs Stuttgart prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-09-16 19:00.
[p]Reigning UEFA Champions League (UCL) winners Real Madrid begin the league phase of the 2024/25 competition with another meeting against a German club in Stuttgart. They are very familiar with Bundesliga teams having gone unbeaten against them last term (W5, D2), including winning the UCL final 2-0 against Borussia Dortmund to claim a record-extending 15th European title.[/p]
[p]Los Blancos beat Real Sociedad 2-0 on Saturday in La Liga by netting twice from the penalty spot, and with their injury woes gradually easing, they should be confident of extending an unbeaten record in home UCL matches that stretches back to April 2022 (W10, D3). Even more encouragingly, the Spanish outfit have lost just one of their last 23 UCL home games against German opposition – a 4-3 defeat to Schalke in March 2015 (W17, D5)![/p]
[p]Making their first UCL appearance since 2009/10, during which they were winless in four attempts against Spanish opponents (D2, L2), this is a daunting start for Stuttgart, who will also later meet Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain. At least they head to Spain on the back of some positive results, scoring six times across their last two Bundesliga fixtures (W1, D1).[/p]
[p]Despatching Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1 on their travels on Saturday was their first league win of the season (D1, L1), but as they prepare for a first European adventure since 2013/14, they have an uninspiring away record in Europe’s premier competition (W2, D3, L6). The Swabians do have winning experience in these parts as their last visit to Spain saw them beat Getafe 3-0 in the 2010/11 UEFA Europa League.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: This match takes place almost a year to the day since Kylian Mbappé last netted against a German club – all four of his goals for Madrid have arrived between the 65th and 80th minute. Deniz Undav opened the scoring for Stuttgart against Gladbach with his fourth consecutive club strike which came away from home.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Real Madrid scored after the 70th minute in each of their last three UCL fixtures and in three of their last four league games this term.[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]