Kylian Mbappe scored twice from the penalty spot to inspire 10-man Real Madrid to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Marseille in their Champions League opener on Tuesday night, as Xabi Alonso’s side overcame early setbacks and a late red card to begin their European campaign with three vital points.
Madrid’s night at the Santiago Bernabeu began on the wrong foot when new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered a hamstring injury just three minutes into his Champions League debut for the club. The former Liverpool right-back had been handed a starting role ahead of Dani Carvajal, but his outing ended abruptly, prompting an early substitution.
The situation worsened for the 15-time European champions when Marseille took the lead in the 22nd minute. Timothy Weah rifled home a fierce strike past Thibaut Courtois after Mason Greenwood dispossessed Arda Guler in midfield and laid the ball into his path. It was a deserved lead for the French side, who looked sharp in transition.
However, the advantage was short-lived. Just six minutes later, Rodrygo was tripped inside the box by Geoffrey Kondogbia, allowing Mbappe to step up and calmly convert his first spot-kick of the night, leveling the score at 1-1.
Mbappe, who had already tested Marseille with an early bicycle kick, continued to look dangerous throughout, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang twice came close to restoring the visitors’ lead — once firing wide and then being denied by Courtois.
Real’s hopes took another blow in the 72nd minute when Carvajal, who had come on for the injured Alexander-Arnold, was shown a straight red card after confronting Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and appearing to move his head toward him. Despite being reduced to 10 men, the Spanish giants refused to sit back.
Their persistence paid off when Facundo Medina handled the ball inside the area under pressure from Vinicius Jr. Mbappe stepped up once more and lashed home his second penalty of the night — and his sixth goal in five matches this season — sealing the comeback win for Madrid.
“Kylian was ice-cold tonight,” said head coach Xabi Alonso. “We had to fight through a lot, but this is the mentality we’re building.”
Madrid’s win comes as a relief following last season’s quarter-final exit to Arsenal and a shaky group stage that saw them finish 11th. Alonso, in his debut season at the helm, will be pleased with the grit shown by his players.
The La Liga leaders now prepare for their next Champions League fixture — an away trip to Kazakhstan to face Kairat on September 30. Marseille will host Ajax on the same day.
Meanwhile, concern lingers over Alexander-Arnold, whose injury could rule him out of a return to Anfield on November 4 when Madrid visit Liverpool. Having already struggled for game time under Alonso and omitted from England’s squad for the September qualifiers, the 26-year-old faces yet another frustrating spell on the sidelines.
