Kylian Mbappe scored for Real Madrid in his team’s first Champions League game, reigniting his pursuit of a European championship.
Just seconds into the second half of Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Mbappe Һit the open net following a cross by Rodrygo.
“What a fantastic evening,” Mbappe remarked. As they always are in the Champions League, it was a difficult match, but it was crucial to begin with the victory at home.
Mbappe appeared to blоw candles and give a kiss as a way of celebrating. The 50th birthday of his mother was to be honoured, according to Spanish media.
The goal put Madrid, the reigning champions, ahead 1-0 until Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav levelled in the 68th minute. The reigning champions’ triumph was sealed in stoppage time as substitute Endrick scored the final goal after Antonio Rudiger had pushed Madrid back ahead in the 83rd.
It was Mbappe’s 49th Champions League goal, putting him in the top 10 of top scorers all time in the competition.
He has three goals in a row and five goals overall in his first seven outings across all competitions with Madrid.
“I have more,” Mbappe declared. “Match after match, I feel better.”
Thibaut Courtois, the goalie for Real Madrid, was voted man of the match because he was instrumental in preventing Stuttgart from taking advantage of its several scoring opportunities.
Prior to his goal, Mbappe had been largely quiet. In the 25th minute, he entered the area and had a golden chance, but his low drive was saved. A few minutes later, Federico Valverde’s low cross to the France star found a defender, but not before he was free inside the area.
Early on at the Bernabeu, Madrid struggled to generate many meaningful scoring opportunities. Stuttgart posed the biggest threаt, hitting the crossbar with one shot and a handful of one-on-one opportunities.
Vinicius Junior also Һit the crossbar for Madrid.
Mbappe won the 2018 World Cup with France but failed to win the Champions League in the seven seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, which was also on a quest for its first title in Europe’s top club competition.
The playmaker left PSG as a free agent at the end of last season to join Madrid following a decade-long pursuit by the Spanish powerhouse – a move could boost his chances of lifting the European trophy with the team that has won the Champions League six times in the last 11 years.
Mbappe reached the semi-finals of the club competition in 2017 with Monaco, and was a beaten finalist in 2020 with PSG. He was also in the semifinals with PSG in 2021 and last season.