Real Madrid begin their UEFA Champions League title defence against Bundesliga side Stuttgart on September 17.
Los Blancos feature on the first day of Matchday 1 of the new league phase format, which has been introduced for 2024/25 as part of an expanded tournament.
Stuttgart finished second in the German league last season behind Bayer Leverkusen and are making their first appearance in the Champions League for 14 years. Coach Sebastian Hoeness said his players had been hoping for the chance to play at the Santiago Bernabeu when the league-phase draw was made, and they will be determined to put on a show against the 15-time kings of Europe.
For Madrid, this will be their first Champions League game since the arrival of star forward Kylian Mbappe, who now begins his latest quest to get his hands on the famous trophy.
The Sporting News is following the Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart match live, providing live updates and commentary
Latest updates from the first half | Where to watch the match where you are | All the team news
Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart score
| 1st Half | Goalscorers | |
| Real Madrid | 0 | |
| Stuttgart | 0 |
Confirmed lineups:
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Thibaut Courtois (GK) — 17. Lucas Vazquez, 2. Dani Carvajal, 22. Antonio Rudiger, 23. Ferland Mendy — 8. Federico Valverde, 14. Aurelien Tchouameni — 11. Rodrygo, 5. Jude Bellingham, 7. Vinicius Junior — 9. Kylian Mbappe
Stuttgart (4-3-3, right to left): 33. Alexander Nubel (GK) — 4. Josha Vagnoman, 29. Anthony Rouault, 24. Jeff Chabot, 7. Maximilian Mittelstadt — 16. Atakan Karazor, 6. Angelo Stiller, 18. Jamie Leweling — 8. Enzo Millot, 26. Deniz Undav, 27. Chris Fuhrich
WATCH: UEFA Champions League with a FREE trial of Paramount+ in USA | A new era of UEFA Champions League in Australia, only on Stan Sport
Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart live updates, highlights, and commentary
37 minutes before kickoff: Jude is here, and he’s locked in.
We are here! #UCL pic.twitter.com/Dnz6KUOvQe
— Real Madrid C.F.
(@realmadriden) September 17, 2024
1 hour before kickoff: The Stuttgart team is in. They make three changes from the weekend win at Borussia Monchengladbach: in come Anthony Rouault, Enzo Millot and Chris Fuhrich, with Anrie Chase, Fabian Rieder and, surprisingly, Ermedin Demirovic dropping out.
Unsere Start
für das @ChampionsLeague-Spiel gegen @realmadrid!
33 Nübel – 4 Vagnoman, 6 Stiller, 7 Mittelstädt, 8 Millot, 16 Karazor (C), 18 Leweling, 24 Chabot, 26 Undav, 27 Führich, 29 Rouault#VfB | #StuttgartInternational | #UCL | #RMAVfB pic.twitter.com/n63GMUHKZR
— VfB Stuttgart (@VfB) September 17, 2024
1 hour 20 mins before kickoff: The Stuttgart party has arrived in Madrid. This is their first Champions League game since 2010, and they’re determined to enjoy the occasion.
#VfB | #StuttgartInternational | #UCL | #RMAVfB pic.twitter.com/r0YqSUohtf
— VfB Stuttgart (@VfB) September 17, 2024
1 hour 40 mins before kickoff: Real Madrid, as per tradition, have named their starting lineup really early! The big news is that Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni both tart after recovering from injury. Carlo Ancelotti has also mixed up the back four, with Dani Carvajal starting at centre-back and Lucas Vazquez on the right.
Our starting XI!
@VfB_int#UCL pic.twitter.com/37at3VHY8u
— Real Madrid C.F.
2 hours before kickoff: The UEFA Champions League is BACK, and it’s the reigning champions who get to play on Day 1. Standing in the way of Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe are Stuttgart, who are back in the big time for the first time since 2010.
#UCL
— Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart kick off time
This UEFA Champions League match kicks off at the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid at 9 p.m. local time.
Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA | Tues, Sep. 17 | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| Canada | Tues, Sep. 17 | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| UK | Tues, Sep. 17 | 8:00 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Weds, Sep. 18 | 5:00 a.m. AEDT |
| India | Weds, Sep. 18 | 12:30 a.m. IST |
Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart lineups, team news
Ancelotti has Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni back fit for this opening Champions League game and both of them are in the starting lineup.
Eduardo Camavinga is still sidelined, alongside Dani Ceballos and Brahim Diaz. Rodrygo comes back into the side, with Arda Guler dropping out.
Dani Carvajal will play this game as a makeshift centre-back, with Lucas Vazquez starting on the right of the defence.
Real Madrid starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Vazquez, Carvajal, Rudiger, Mendy — Valverde, Tchouameni — Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius — Mbappe
Real Madrid subs: Lunin, F. Gonzalez, Militao, Modric, Guler, Endrick, Vallejo, F. Garcia
Injured: Camavinga, Ceballos, Diaz, Alaba
Suspended: None
MORE: All the latest Champions League news | How does the 2024/25 Champions League work? | Real Madrid UEFA Champions League fixtures
Sebastian Hoeness deployed a 4-2-2-2 setup at Borussia Monchengladbach last time out but seems to be switching to a 4-3-3 for this fixture.
Anthony Rouault comes in at centre-back for Japanese youngster Anrie Chase, while Enzo Millot and Chris Fuhrich join Deniz Undav in attack.
Ermedin Demirovic, who has four goals in five games since signing in the offseason from Augsburg, surprisingly starts on the bench.
Stuttgart starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Nubel (GK) — Vagnoman, Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstadt — Karazor, Stiller, Leweling — Millot, Undav, Fuhrich
Stuttgart subs: Bredlow, Keitel, Demirovic, Toure, Kratzig, Stenzel, Zagadou, Rieder, Raimund, Seimen, Chase
Injured: Al-Dakhil, Frans Kratzig, Stergiou (doubt), Zagadou (doubt)
Suspended: None
Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart live stream, TV channel
Here is how to watch the match in some of the world’s major regions:
United States:
- TV channel: TUDN USA, UniMas
Live stream: Paramount+, Fubo, ViX, TUDN.com, Univision Now, TUDN App
This game is available on TUDN USA for live TV broadcast. Spanish-speaking viewers can catch the game on UniMas. Streaming options are available on Paramount+, Fubo, TUDN.com, TUDN App, ViX, and Univision Now.
For a limited time, new subscribers can enjoy Paramount+ starting at $ 2.50 per month for 12 months! Billed annually. Stream the NFL on CBS, Champions League soccer and more. Redeem now!
Fans can stream the game live online with Fubo, which is offering a seven-day FREE trial to new subscribers.
Canada:
- TV channel: —
Live stream: DAZN
This game is unfortunately not available for live TV Broadcast for viewers residing in Canada. Streaming options are available on DAZN.
Australia:
TV channel: —
Live stream: Stan Sport
In Australia, the Champions League clash between Real Madrid and VfB Stuttgart will be available to watch and stream live exclusively on Stan Sport. Coverage starts at 4:55 a.m. AEST.
Australian viewers can catch all 189 Champions League matches on Stan Sport this season. Additionally, they can also catch all UEFA Europa League games and UEFA Conference League fixtures on the platform.
If Real Madrid vs. VfB Stuttgart is not available to watch live in your location or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.
India:
- TV channel: SONY TEN 1, SONY TEN 1HD
- Live stream: Sony LIV, Jio TV
Champions League matches for the 2024/25 season will largely be shown on Jio TV and Sony LIV in India.
Song LIV originally acquired the streaming rights for the UEFA Champions League in 2017, extended the right to broadcast the tournament till the end of 2026 to 2027 this year.
Every single Champions League match of the 2024/25 competition will be streamed on Sony LIV, and the televised events can also be found on JioTV.
UK:
- TV channel: TNT Sports 1
- Live stream: discovery+, discovery+ App
Champions League matches for the 2024/25 season will largely be shown on TNT Sports and discovery+ in UK.
Meanwhile, fans can stream every single Champions League match of the 2024/25 competition on discovery+ in the UK.
