Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart preview: Team news and predicted lineups
In their first Champions League match since 2010, VfB Stuttgart travel to the Spanish capital to take on none other than defending champions Real Madrid.
Unbeaten in their last 14 Champions League games on home soil, Real Madrid will be confident going into the game, while Stuttgart will be hoping to cause an upset by being brave and focusing on their own strengths.
“We want to be brave and courageous and put in a good performance. That increases the chance of achieving a good result. We are playing with the necessary respect against an opponent with outstanding qualities. Real are Champions League winners,” said Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness at his pre-match press conference.
“We want to surprise and perform in the Champions League, playing how we play in the Bundesliga. We have to be wide awake and highly concentrated. It is also important that we bring our strengths on to the pitch. We also believe that we can annoy Real at times.”
After losing key players Waldemar Anton, Hiroki Ito and Serhou Guirassy in the summer following their sensational second-place finish, Stuttgart are a different team and have needed time to adjust to the new reality.
A disappointing 3-1 loss to Freiburg in their opening Bundesliga match was followed by a 3-3 draw with Mainz and most recently a strong 3-1 away win over Borussia Mönchengladbach, in which new signings Ermedin Demirovic and Fabian Rieder played a key role with two goals and two assists respectively.
Real, who sit second in La Liga with 11 points after five games, go into the match off the back of back-to-back 2-0 wins over Real Sociedad and Real Betis.
On the injury front, Real Madrid will have to manage without Alaba (knee), Camavinga (knee), Ceballos (ankle) and Brahim Díaz (adductor).
Stuttgart will be without Al-Dakhil (muscular) and Stergiou (back), while Felix Krätzig (calf) is a doubt.
Anthony Rouault made his return from injury at the weekend, coming on as a substitute in the second half. If he's fit enough, he could come in for the young and inexperienced Anrie Chase in central defense.
Click here to see our predicted Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart lineups.