Real Madrid 2-1 Marseille: Bright start for Xabi Alonso’s side in his first Champions League match as Los Blancos manager
Real Madrid secured a record 200th Champions League victory on Tuesday night, overcoming an early deficit and a second-half red card to defeat Marseille 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
A brace of penalties from Kylian Mbappe sealed the win on a dramatic opening night of the competition.
Madrid’s injury concerns mounted right from the start when defender Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off within minutes with a hamstring issue, replaced by captain Dani Carvajal.
The home side went a goal down with 22 minutes played, Marseille’s Mason Greenwood dispossessing Arda Guler and then finding Timothy Weah, who fired past Thibaut Courtois.
The advantage was short-lived, however. Just seven minutes later, Rodrygo was fouled in the box by Geoffrey Kondogbia. Mbappe stepped up and coolly converted the penalty to level the score.
The game continued with both sides threatening, and the momentum seemed to shift decisively against Madrid in the 72nd minute when captain Dani Carvajal appeared to headbutt Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. The veteran defender was shown a red card following a VAR review, forcing Madrid to play the final stretch a man down.
However, Alonso’s side rallied and managed to pull off another victory with a man down, as they have now become experts at doing, even if it was fortuitous this time. Marseille’s Facundo Medina was adjudged to have handled the ball while sliding to block a shot from Vinicius Junior. The Argentine will feel hard done by.
For the second time Mbappe converted from the spot, even though Rulli managed to get a bit of his palm on it.
