SOCCER
Real Madrid’s possible line-up vs Stuttgart in UCL - will Bellingham play?
Real Madrid begin the defence of their European crown with a Champions League clash against VfB Stuttgart.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is expected to welcome key figures back into his team today, as Los Blancos begin the defence of their Champions League title with a home clash against Germans VfB Stuttgart.
Bellingham, Tchouaméni poised for comeback
After recovering from injury, midfielders Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouaméni are both set to return to Madrid’s line-up on matchday one of Europe’s new-look premier club competition.
“We’re getting back two important players,” Ancelotti told reporters yesterday as he looked ahead to Stuttgart’s visit to the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. “Although we’ve also had the bad luck of losing one,” the Italian added, in reference to the groin injury suffered by winger Brahim Díaz in Saturday’s LaLiga win over Real Sociedad.
Ancelotti eases Militão injury fears
Defender Éder Militão missed team training yesterday after sustaining a knock in the weekend victory, but is expected to be fit to play against Stuttgart. “He didn’t train today because we wanted to give him another day’s rest, allowing him just to do individual work,” Ancelotti told his pre-match press conference. “He will be available tomorrow, 100%.”
Ancelotti is likely to make three changes to the team that began the win in San Sebastián: Luka Modric and Arda Güler are expected to make way for Bellingham and Tchouaméni, while Rodrygo Goes will come in for Brahim. For the first time this season, the Bernabéu will get a chance to watch their attacking ‘fantastic four’ of Bellingham, Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior.
The defence is set to remain unchanged, a back four of Dani Carvajal, Militão, Antonio Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy starting in front of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Alongside Brahim, Madrid are also without the services of the injured trio David Alaba (knee), Eduardo Camavinga (knee) and Dani Ceballos (ankle).
See also
Real Madrid’s possible starting line-up vs Stuttgart
Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy; Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jude Bellingham; Rodrygo Goes, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior.
Real Madrid vs Stuttgart: start time, how to watch
On matchday one of the 2024/25 Champions League, Real Madrid host VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday September 17, 2024, at 3pm ET/12 noon PT. Viewers in the United States will be able to watch the game on TUDN USA, UniMás, Paramount+ and ViX.