Real Madrid will begin the defense of their Champions League title against Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabéu on September 17, UEFA announced on Saturday.
The German club finished second in the Bundesliga last season, achieving the highest points tally in its history and surpassing even the years in which it won the league title.
Stuttgart’s start to the season, however, heralds a major decline for the team, especially after losing its top scorer Serhou Guirassy.
Stuttgart began the Bundesliga with a 3-1 defeat to Freiburg away from home, and today at its famous MHP stadium, it drew 3-3 with Mainz.
Stuttgart led 2-0 in the first quarter of an hour, but failed to maintain its lead and Mainz came back to draw 2-2 in the second half.
In the 87th minute, Stuttgart scored what was seen as the winning goal, but Mainz surprised them again and scored the equalizer in the 93rd minute.
Stuttgart will play one more match before they set up a date with Real Madrid, as they face Borussia Mönchengladbach at Borussia Park, then travel to the Spanish capital to play their first Champions League match since 2010.
