Kylian Mbappe bolstering holders Real Madrid’s Champions League ambitions
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Kylian Mbappe has three Spanish La Liga goals from four games this season for Real Madrid, including two penalties.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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MADRID – The format may be new, but few would bet against the winners staying the same.
As if record 15-time champions Real Madrid’s Champions League prospects were not great enough already, superstar striker Kylian Mbappe’s arrival makes Los Blancos the most daunting team in the tournament this season.
German side Stuttgart have the honour of facing the reigning kings of Europe first in the opening week of the competition, travelling to the Santiago Bernabeu on Sept 17.
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, the most decorated manager in the history of the Champions League with five triumphs, has not yet found the perfect set-up to get Mbappe firing from open play, but few doubt he will.
Mbappe had arguably his best game for the club in the 2-0 win over Real Sociedad on Sept 14 in La Liga, threatening the Basque side with his pace and connecting well with Vinicius Jr in attack.
The 25-year-old scored, albeit from the penalty spot, and he is looking forward to his first Champions League match in Real colours.
“It will be very important for me – as I said on the first day, I came to Madrid to live these type of nights,” he said. “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.”
The new structure has thrown up ties for Real at home against Borussia Dortmund, in a rematch of the 2024 final they won, and away at Liverpool, the side they defeated in the 2022 final.
Ancelotti’s men have played one European game already this season, defeating Atalanta to win the Uefa Super Cup in August, with Mbappe scoring on his debut.
Experience would be key but the coach has problems in midfield with Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos out injured, while he confirmed that Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni are back.
While Real’s shiny new toy Mbappe is drawing much of the attention, Ancelotti has plenty of stars at his disposal with the talent to turn defeats into draws and draws into victories.
Bellingham was the key player for the first half of the 2023-24 season, making an immediate impact on his arrival from Dortmund. Brazilian forward Vinicius was vital in the home straight, netting a brace in the semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich and scoring again in the final.
The forward has struggled to find his best level at the start of the season but Ancelotti will show plenty of patience.
“We love him here because although right now he’s not at his best, nobody can forget that with Vini we have won two Champions Leagues,” the Italian said.
Mbappe, meanwhile, also said he is working on his on-pitch relationship with Vinicius.
“We try to find each other in training to create the connection and help the team,” the Frenchman said.
“He’s a great player and I’m happy to play with him in Real Madrid – what’s important is goals.”
Mbappe has three goals from five La Liga games this season, including two penalties, while Vinicius has two, both from the spot.
Once the two forwards are firing on all cylinders in open play, Real’s already sizeable chance of winning the Champions League again will grow. AFP
