Late goals from Ruediger and Endrick give Real nervy win over Stuttgart

MADRID :Real Madrid started their Champions League title defence with a hard-fought 3-1 home win over Stuttgart on Tuesday thanks to late goals by Antonio Ruediger and teenaged substitute Endrick.

Stuttgart were arguably the superior side at a sold-out Santiago Bernabeu stadium, with Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois having to make a string of critical saves to deny efforts by the German side.

Real, however, got the lead in the first minute of the second half in a quick counter-attack when Rodrygo crossed for Kylian Mbappe to strike from close range.

Stuttgart found the equaliser with a header by Deniz Undav in the 68th minute but Real substitute Luka Modric lifted a corner to meet Ruediger who nodded a header past the goalkeeper in the 83rd.

Eighteen-year-old Endrick slotted home a powerful shot from long range deep into added time to secure an edgy win for the local side.

"Those who watch Stuttgart closely know that they are an attacking side which scores a lot of goals but can be caught off guard; I'm glad that we managed to go out with a win," player-of-the-match Courtois told Movistar Plus.

"They pressed hard against us in the beginning and we suffered, sometimes by our own mistakes, but we got better and should have scored on many occasions.

"I'm content with the way we responded after the equaliser because winning is very important in this new format of the Champions League."

Manager Carlo Ancelotti, faced with a selection puzzle in defence with David Alaba still recovering from an ACL tear sustained last season and Eder Militao struggling with a lingering leg muscle problem, started fullback Dani Carvajal as a centre back and Stuttgart went aggressively after the right side of Real's defence, almost scoring on