Kylian Mbappé struck twice from the penalty spot to hand Real Madrid a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Marseille in their opening game of the 2025/26 Champions League campaign, despite Dani Carvajal’s second-half dismissal.
The night began with an early setback for Carlo Ancelotti’s side when Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off just minutes after kick-off with a suspected hamstring problem.
Yet Madrid quickly regained control, pressing high and creating danger. Youngster Franco Mastantuono came closest in the early stages, robbing Facundo Medina before rattling the post with a powerful drive.
Against the run of play, Roberto De Zerbi’s men silenced the Bernabéu. Mason Greenwood pounced on a loose pass from Arda Güler and surged forward before sliding the ball into Timothy Weah’s path.
The American forward made no mistake, hammering past Thibaut Courtois to give Marseille a shock lead.
Madrid responded with relentless pressure, and their breakthrough arrived before the break. Geoffrey Kondogbia brought down Rodrygo in the box, leaving the referee with an easy decision.
Mbappé coolly converted from the spot to level the score.
The first half closed with big chances at both ends, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang failing to punish a defensive slip from Éder Militão, and Mastantuono denied by Gerónimo Rulli after a lightning Madrid counter led by Mbappé.
After the restart, Madrid pushed with the same intensity. Mbappé’s deflected strike clipped the crossbar, while Aubameyang forced Courtois into a smart save from distance.
The contest shifted, however, when Carvajal, who had come on for Alexander-Arnold, allowed frustration to get the better of him.
A reckless confrontation with Rulli during a corner earned the Madrid captain a red card after VAR review, leaving Los Blancos down to ten men.
Even so, the European champions refused to settle for a draw. Their persistence was rewarded when Medina, sliding to block, handled the ball inside the area.
Mbappé once again took responsibility, and though Rulli got fingertips to it, the Frenchman’s strike was too strong to keep out.
Marseille chased an equaliser in the dying minutes, their best chance falling to Greenwood, who blazed over from close range after Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s flick. Madrid held firm to secure all three points, with Mbappé the difference-maker on a dramatic night in the Spanish capital.
