Real Madrid, the reigning Champions League champions, are poised to make a formidable run in this year’s competition with the addition of superstar striker Kylian Mbappe. The Spanish giants have won the tournament a record 15 times, and Mbappe’s arrival has only strengthened their chances of adding to their tally.
Madrid will kick off their campaign against German side Stuttgart on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu. Coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has won the Champions League five times, is still fine-tuning his team’s setup to get the best out of Mbappe, but there is little doubt that the Frenchman will eventually find his scoring touch.
Mbappe had a strong performance in Madrid’s 2-0 win over Real Sociedad in La Liga on Saturday, threatening the Basque side with his pace and linking up well with Vinicius Junior in attack. He scored from the penalty spot and is eager to make his Champions League debut for Madrid.
“It will be very important for me,” Mbappe said. “I came to Madrid to live these type of nights. I am very focused on what we have to do. The Champions League has changed a lot, it’s a new competition, and we have to win to start well.”
Madrid’s new-look structure has given them ties at home against Dortmund, in a rematch of last season’s final, and away at Liverpool, whom they defeated in the 2022 final. First up, however, is Stuttgart, continuing a streak of German opponents for Los Blancos.
While Mbappe is grabbing the headlines, Ancelotti has a wealth of talent at his disposal. Bellingham was a key player for Madrid in the first half of last season, while Vinicius was vital in the home straight, scoring a brace in the semis against Bayern and again in the final.
Mbappe says he is working on his on-pitch relationship with Vinicius, with both netting penalties in the win over La Real. “We try to find each other in training to create the connection and help the team,” Mbappe said. “He’s a great player and I’m happy to play with him in Real Madrid.”
With Mbappe and Vinicius firing on all cylinders, Madrid’s chances of winning the Champions League yet again will grow even further.
