Empty-handed despite strong display

Match summary

Sebastian Hoeneß’s side began their first UEFA Champions League match in 14 years full of confidence and with plenty of possession against Real Madrid. Jamie Leweling forced Thibaut Courtois to make a reflex save to keep out a shot early on (3’).

VfB wasteful

Göz Atın

Narrow defeat in Madrid

“We can be proud”

Kick-off against the defending champions

VfB remained on top and had their next chance in the eighth minute when Deniz Undav brilliantly sent Enzo Millot into the home side’s penalty area, but he placed his shot wide of the target. With Real struggling to get a grip on VfB’s build-up play, there were further openings for Millot (14’) and Angelo Stiller (16’), but both were denied by Courtois.

Nübel to the rescue

At the other end of the pitch, Alex Nübel produced a fine save to keep out Kylian Mbappé’s powerful effort (25’). The hosts grew into the game but rode their luck in the 28^th minute when Undav’s deflected shot cannoned off the crossbar. As such, an entertaining, end-to-end encounter remained goalless at the interval, with both sides guilty of squandering good opportunities.

Real take the lead

The home side took the lead through Mbappé straight away in the second half, and were soon the better team. Hoeneß’s charges were unable to prevent them from launching waves of attacks and looked shaky at the back, and were lucky to see Junior’s long-range strike come back off the bar (59’).

Undav equalises

Courtois thwarted Leweling just seconds later (60’) as VfB began to improve, and the Real goalkeeper was powerless to keep out Undav’s opportunistic header eight minutes after that.

Rüdiger decisive

The match was played on an even footing for a long time, and Hoeneß’s side were unable to convert several presentable chances. They were made to pay seven minutes before the end when Antonio Rüdiger headed in a corner from close range, before Endrick finished off a counter-attack in stoppage time, with VfB throwing everything forward in search of an equaliser.

Goals

46^th minute: Maxi Mittelstädt is unable to reach a long ball aimed at Rodrygo. The Brazilian crosses into the middle for Mbappé, who is left with a simple tap-in.

68^th minute: From a corner, Leweling finds Undav, who heads in a deserved equaliser.

83^rd minute: VfB’s defence is out of sorts at a corner, allowing Rüdiger to head in the decisive goal to put Real Madrid 2-1 up.

90’+5^th minute: Endrick finishes off a counter-attack in stoppage time to make it 3-1.