Mbappé scores to open new Champions League campaign

MADRID (AP):

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ renewed his quest to win a European title by scoring for Real Madrid in his first Champions League match with the club.

Mbappé found the open net after a cross by Rodrygo just seconds into the second half of Madrid’s 3-1 win over Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium yesterday.

“It was a great night,” Mbappé said.

“It was a tough match, as they always are in the Champions League, but it was important to start with the win at home.”

Mbappé celebrated with a gesture in which he appeared to blow candles and send a kiss. Spanish media said it was to honour his mother’s 50th birthday.

The goal gave defending champions Madrid a 1-0 lead before Stuttgart equalised with Deniz Undav in the 68th. Antonio Rüdiger put Madrid back in front in the 83rd and substitute Endrick closed the scoring deep into stoppage time to seal the victory for the defending champions.

It was Mbappé’s 49th Champions League goal, putting him in the top 10 of top scorers, all time, in the competition.

He has scored in three consecutive matches and has five goals in seven games with Madrid so far in all competitions.

“I can do more,” Mbappé said. “I’m feeling better match after match.”

Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was named the man of the match as he was key to keeping Stuttgart from capitalising on their many scoring opportunities.

Mbappé had been mostly quiet until scoring, with one of his clearest chances coming in the 25th minute after he entered the area and had his low shot saved. He was free inside the area a couple of minutes later, but Federico Valverde’s low cross to the France star was intercepted by a defender.

Madrid struggled to created many significant scoring opportunities early on at the Bernabeu. It was Stuttgart that threatened the most, including with a couple one-on-one situations and an attempt that hit the crossbar.

Vinícius Júnior also hit the crossbar for Madrid.

Mbappé 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.

Mbappé reached the semifinals 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.

Yesterday’s Results

Juventus 3-1 PSV

Young Boys 0-3 Aston Villa

Bayern 9-2 Dynamo Zagreb

Sporting 2-0 LOSC

Real Madrid 3-1 Stuttgart

Milan 1-3 Liverpool