Real Madrid Come From Behind With 10 Men to Beat Marseille
Kylian Mbappé scored twice from the penalty spot as 10-man Real Madrid fought back to beat visiting Marseille 2-1 on the opening night of the Champions League season.
The win not only secured three points for Madrid but also made the 15-time champions the first team in Champions League history—since the competition’s rebranding in the early 1990s—to reach 200 victories. It also marked a successful European debut for former Madrid star Xabi Alonso as the club’s head coach.
Marseille took an early lead through Timothy Weah, who was set up by Mason Greenwood after a turnover from Madrid’s Arda Guler near midfield. But Mbappé struck twice from the penalty spot—first in the 29th minute after a foul on Rodrygo, and again in the 81st minute for a handball by a defender.
With those goals, Mbappé now has 50 goals in 64 matches for Real Madrid, equaling the tally of former Madrid and Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. “We are happy that he keeps scoring goals and has been feeling more and more comfortable,” Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde said. “Our job is to make sure the ball gets to him so he can have even more scoring opportunities.”
Madrid’s comeback came despite losing captain Dani Carvajal, who was sent off in the 72nd minute for head-butting Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli. Earlier, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Champions League debut for Madrid lasted only five minutes, as he was forced off with an apparent muscle injury, making way for Carvajal.
Off the pitch, Spanish police had to intervene in clashes with Marseille fans before kickoff, but the situation was quickly brought under control.
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