FootyChatter.com

Mbappe scored seven goals for Real Madrid in the Champions League last season Kylian Mbappe scored two penalties as 10-man Real Madrid battled to victory over Marseille in their Champions League opener. Los Blancos were handed an early blow when Trent Alexander-Arnold pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury after only three minutes. And they suffered another setback when the England full-back's replacement, Dani Carvajal, was sent off with 18 minutes left after he faced off with Geronimo Rulli and moved his head towards the Marseille goalkeeper. But the 15-time European champions emerged victorious thanks to Mbappe, who twice stepped up to slam spot-kicks past Rulli, taking his club tally to six in five games this season. Timothy Weah had opened the scoring for Marseille in the 22nd minute, beating Thibaut Courtois with a powerful strike after former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood stole possession from Arda Guler in the middle of the pitch. But their lead lasted just six minutes as Mbappe, who had come close to scoring in the early stages with an acrobatic bicycle kick, converted his first penalty after Geoffrey Kondogbia had brought down Rodrygo in the box. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang twice came close to restoring the French side's lead, but dragged the first effort wide, before Courtois punched away the ex-Arsenal captain's second strike. Even after Carvajal's red card, Real continued to create chances and were rewarded for their efforts when visiting defender Facundo Medina handled following a strong challenge to stop Vinicius Jr in the box. Once again, Mbappe kept his cool and his penalty had enough pace to beat Rulli, who had guessed the right way. Real are looking to reclaim their crown, having failed to defend their title last season after falling to Arsenal in the quarter-finals. Xabi Alonso, in his first season in charge, will also be keen for the club to better last term's league phase, where Real finished 11th and needed to go through the play-offs to reach the knockout stages. The La Liga leaders travel to Kazakhstan to face Kairat on 30 September in their next Champions League game, while Marseille host Ajax on the same night. Alexander-Arnold was taken off in the fifth minute It was a disappointing early end to Alexander-Arnold's first Champions League game for Real Madrid. The 26-year-old, who left his boyhood club Liverpool at the end of last season, had been given the nod to start at right-back ahead of Carvajal. But he pulled up while running for the ball and immediately held his hamstring before being replaced by Spain international Carvajal in the fifth minute. Depending on the severity of the injury, the England full-back could miss out on a return to Anfield, with Real Madrid due to visit Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday, 4 November. It was another blow for Alexander-Arnold, who had started just two of Los Blancos' four La Liga games this season and was left out of Thomas Tuchel's squad for the September World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 16th September 2025 at 21: 59 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Xabi Alonso Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Roberto De Zerbi Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Xabi Alonso Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Roberto De Zerbi Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 UEFA Champions League All competitions All competitions All competitions Real Madrid have won all four of their games against Marseille in European competition. If they win this match, Marseille will be the opponent they have beaten the most times in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League while maintaining a 100 percent record (also 4/4 v APOEL Nicosia and Zürich). Only against FC Porto (5) have Marseille suffered more defeats in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League than they have against Real Madrid (4). Indeed, Los Blancos are the opponent they’ve faced most often across the two competitions while losing every time (4/4). This will be the 27th time that Real Madrid have begun a European Cup/UEFA Champions League campaign with a home match, while they’ve only been beaten on one of the previous 26 occasions (W23 D2): a 3-2 defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk in 2020-21. Marseille have faced Real Madrid in their opening game of a UEFA Champions League game once previously, doing so in September 2003 at the Santiago Bernabéu. Didier Drogba opened the scoring for the French side on that occasion, but they would go on to lose 4-2. No French team has ever won away to Real Madrid in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League. In 15 previous attempts, they have lost 11 of them (D4) and failed to keep a clean sheet on every occasion (42 goals conceded, at an average of 2. 8 per game). Xabi Alonso will become the third individual to have both managed and played for Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League since 1992-93 (47 apps), after Zinedine Zidane (45 apps, 53 games as manager) and Santiago Solari (48 apps, five games as manager). Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi took charge of six UEFA Champions League matches in 2021-22 in the group stage with Shakhtar Donetsk, failing to win any of those games (D2 L4). They only scored two goals and conceded 12 times. Kylian Mbappé scored seven goals for Real Madrid in this competition last season; the joint-most by a player in their first European Cup/UEFA Champions League campaign for Real Madrid, along with Cristiano Ronaldo (2009-10) and Justo Tejada (1961-62). Among players with 5+ appearances against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, Marseille’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has the best minutes per goal ratio against them in the competition (92 – five goals in six appearances). He is also the only player to score in four consecutive Champions League appearances against them, which remains a current streak. Franco Mastantuono could become the youngest ever Real Madrid player to start in a UEFA Champions League game (18y 33d), as well as the second youngest Argentinean to start in the competition, after Lionel Messi in December 2004 (17y 166d v Shakhtar Donetsk). Penalty conceded by Facundo Medina (Marseille) with a handball in the penalty area. Attempt blocked. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kylian Mbappé with a through ball. Attempt saved. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Gerónimo Rulli (Marseille). Assisted by Kylian Mbappé. Substitution, Marseille. Amir Murillo replaces Emerson. Substitution, Marseille. Amine Gouiri replaces Timothy Weah. Attempt missed. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Federico Valverde. Facundo Medina (Marseille) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Facundo Medina (Marseille). Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Offside, Marseille. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is caught offside. Attempt missed. Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Brahim Díaz with a cross following a corner. Substitution, Real Madrid. Raúl Asencio replaces Arda Güler. Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) is shown the red card for violent conduct. VAR Decision: Card upgraded Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid). Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match because of an injury Gerónimo Rulli (Marseille). Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Emerson. Attempt missed. Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Arda Güler with a cross following a corner. Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Mason Greenwood. Substitution, Marseille. Arthur Vermeeren replaces Geoffrey Kondogbia. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.