The reigning European champions Real Madrid (RM) defeated VfB Stuttgart (VfB) 3-1 in their UEFA Champions League (UCL) first match on Tuesday in Madrid.

Real Madrid had difficulty throughout the game, but they managed to win, according to Goal.com. At the Santiago Bernabeu, goals from Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger put them ahead, and Endrick’s late goal sealed the victory.

Although the team didn’t perform well and stayed exposed, the outcome was eventually assured.

Early in the game, the German team had the better opportunities, and Thibaut Courtois made many crucial stops.

In the 28th minute, a deflected attempt by Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav struck the crossbar. Rudiger was hauled down in the area shortly before halftime, giving Real Madrid the impression they had a penalty, but the referee overruled the call, stating Rudiger had fallen too easily.

Not long after the interval, the game was altered. When Aurelien Tchouameni passed to Rodrygo, who subsequently put up Mbappe for a close-range goal, Real Madrid took Stuttgart off surprise.

After a cross, Undav headed in to tie the score for Stuttgart.

Rudiger’s header gave Madrid the lead back, and Endrick’s stoppage-time goal—making him the team’s youngest Champions League goal scorer ever—made it a 3-1 final.

This season is the first time the new UCL format will be used. In lieu of the customary group stage, a league phase involving 36 teams from Europe’s top football leagues will be played. Each side will play an equal number of home and away games in their eight games against eight different opponents.

The results of each game will have a big influence on the league table rankings. The UCL round of 16 will automatically be reached by the top eight clubs.

Teams that position ninth through twenty-fourth will go to a two-leg knockout play-off round. The winners of this phase will earn the last eight slots in the round of sixteen. Teams who place worse than 24th will be disqualified from the tournament.

Olympics.com states that the knockout phases will start in February. The Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, will host the grand final on May 31, 2025.