Kylian Mbappé converted two penalties to help 10-man Real Madrid came from behind to beat visiting Marseille 2-1 on Tuesday on the opening night of the Champions League.
The victory meant that 15-time champions Madrid became the first team in the competition’s history — since the rebranding in the early 1990s — to reach 200 wins. And it gave former Madrid playing standout Xabi Alonso a victory in his Champions League debut as the club’s coach.
ESPN reports that Timothy Weah put visiting Marseille ahead early on but Mbappé struck back from the penalty spot in the 29th and 81st minutes.
Madrid captain Dani Carvajal was sent off in the 72nd for headbutting Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli.
Carvajal had been sent on as an early replacement for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold but neither issue was to prove costly on this occasion as Mbappe earned the plaudits and took his goal tally for the club to 50.
“We are happy that he keeps scoring goals and has been feeling more and more comfortable,” Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde said of the France star. “Our job is to make sure the ball gets to him and that he can have even more scoring opportunities than he is having now.”
The game was played at a high tempo and Mbappé almost scored in spectacular fashion in the second minute when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s misplaced interception bounced kindly but the Frenchman’s instinctive overhead kick flew narrowly wide.
Real suffered a blow moments later when Alexander-Arnold pulled up clutching his hamstring and was forced off, with Carvajal taking his place.
The hosts were not perturbed and teenager Franco Mastantuono struck the post after barrelling through the area and poking a shot past Rulli.
Real were made to rue those misses as Mason Greenwood robbed Arda Güler and released Weah — a United States international and the son of former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah — to blast past Thibaut Courtois after 22 minute.
The lead did not last long as Real levelled after Rodrygo was clumsily brought down by Geoffrey Kondogbia, with Mbappé calmly tucking home from the spot.
