Mbappe Shines as 10-Man Real Madrid Beat Marseille in Thrilling Champions League Opener

Photo: AFP

Real Madrid started their Champions League 2025-26 campaign with a dramatic 2-1 win over Olympique de Marseille at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night. Kylian Mbappe scored both goals for the Spanish giants, converting two penalties and proving crucial despite Real playing the last part of the match with only 10 men.

Early Drama and Key Chances

The match began with high intensity as Real Madrid aimed to dominate at home. However, coach Xabi Alonso faced an early problem when fullback Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered a leg injury just three minutes into the game, forcing an early substitution.

Mbappe came close to opening the scoring with a spectacular bicycle kick that went just wide. Marseille also had their moments, with Franco Mastantuono striking a low shot against the post after outmaneuvering two defenders.

Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli was outstanding in the first half, making ten crucial saves, including a one-handed stop from Mbappe at close range.

Marseille Takes the Lead

In the 22nd minute, Marseille drew first blood. Arda Guler of Real Madrid lost possession to Mason Greenwood, who then passed to Timothy Weah. Weah ran past the Madrid defence and scored with a powerful shot past Thibaut Courtois.

The lead lasted only seven minutes. Geoffrey Kondogbia fouled Rodrygo inside the penalty box, giving Mbappe the chance to equalize for Real Madrid with a calm penalty.

Second Half and Red Card

Real Madrid controlled possession after the break but struggled to break Marseille’s defence. Mbappe’s curling shot in the 49th minute hit the crossbar, showing his continuous threat.

The match took a dramatic turn in the 72nd minute when captain Dani Carvajal was sent off for head-butting Marseille goalkeeper Rulli during a heated moment. Real Madrid were now down to 10 men, increasing the pressure on the home side.

Late Drama and Victory

Despite being a man down, Real Madrid remained dangerous. In the 87th minute, Vinicius Jr made a strong run down the wing. The ball deflected off Facundo Medina’s arm, and the referee awarded a controversial penalty. Mbappe stepped up and calmly converted it to secure a 2-1 win for Real Madrid.

After the match, Mbappe said, “It was a difficult night, because we were down to 10 men, but we showed our Champions League spirit. Analysing handballs is complicated. They said it was a penalty, I took it and scored.”

Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi was unhappy with the decision. He called the second penalty “disgraceful” and said it was never a penalty.

Editorial Perspective

This match highlighted Real Madrid’s fighting spirit and the importance of having world-class players like Mbappe. Even after losing a player to a red card, they managed to secure three points, showing resilience and determination.

For Marseille, the match was a learning experience. Facing a club like Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu is always challenging. Despite the loss, they showed flashes of quality and can take confidence from their performance.