Real Madrid vs Stuttgart: Champions League Starting XI Preview
The 2023-24 Champions League group stage is upon us, and Real Madrid kick off their campaign with a home fixture against VfB Stuttgart. While Madrid are the heavy favorites, Stuttgart will be looking to pull off a major upset.
Real Madrid: A Familiar Lineup, With a Few Twists
Carlo Ancelotti is likely to field a strong starting XI, prioritizing experience and familiarity. Here's a potential lineup:
Formation: 4-3-3
- Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois - The Belgian shot-stopper remains the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, offering a reliable presence between the sticks.
- Defense: Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy are likely to be the starting full-backs, providing attacking width and defensive solidity. David Alaba and Eder Militao will form a formidable center-back pairing, ensuring a strong defensive backbone.
- Midfield: Aurelien Tchouameni, a key acquisition last season, will likely anchor the midfield alongside veterans Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. This trio offers a mix of youth, experience, and tactical awareness, making them a formidable force in the midfield.
- Attack: The dynamic duo of Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde will provide pace and creativity on the wings. Karim Benzema will lead the line as the lone striker, his experience and goal-scoring prowess proving invaluable.
Key Factors for Real Madrid
- Exploiting the wings: Real Madrid's wing-backs, Carvajal and Mendy, will be crucial in stretching the Stuttgart defense and creating space for the front three.
- Benzema's leadership: The French striker will need to be at his clinical best to break down a determined Stuttgart defense.
- Midfield dominance: Real Madrid's midfield trio, with their experience and technical ability, will need to control the tempo of the match and dictate the flow of the game.
Stuttgart: Underdogs With Potential
Stuttgart, who secured promotion to the Bundesliga last season, are the clear underdogs. They will need to be tactically astute and disciplined to have any chance against the reigning European champions.
Potential Starting XI:
Formation: 4-4-2
- Goalkeeper: Fabian Bredlow
- Defense: Hiroki Ito, Pascal Stenzel, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Borna Sosa
- Midfield: Enzo Millot, Wataru Endo, Naouirou Ahamada, Atakan Karazor
- Attack: Serhou Guirassy, Josha Vagnoman
Key Factors for Stuttgart:
- Defensive organization: Stuttgart needs to be tight and organized defensively to frustrate Real Madrid's attacking threats.
- Counter-attacking threat: Stuttgart will need to be opportunistic on the counter-attack, exploiting any defensive lapses by Real Madrid.
- Midfield battle: Stuttgart's midfield will be under immense pressure to win the ball back and disrupt Real Madrid's possession-based style of play.
Conclusion
Real Madrid are the clear favorites heading into this clash. However, Stuttgart, with their resilience and potential for surprises, will be looking to pull off an upset. This fixture promises to be an intriguing encounter, with both teams looking to make a strong statement in the Champions League.
