Real Madrid 2 – 1 Marseille
Under intense pressure from Xabi Alonso’s side, Marseille threatened on the counter whenever they found space.
From Kylian Mbappé’s overhead attempt to the relentless waves of attacks, Real Madrid pressed hard until the final whistle. Despite their dominance, wasteful finishing saw chance after chance go begging. They even fell behind to a surprise goal and had to finish the match with 10 men, yet the record champions held their nerve to start their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought victory.
At the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday night, Xabi Alonso’s team beat Marseille 2-1. After Tim Weah put the visitors ahead, Mbappé turned the game around with two penalty goals.
Real Madrid controlled possession early and dominated the attack, but the pattern gradually shifted. By the end, the visitors had actually edged possession.
Real finished with just over 40% of the ball but fired 28 shots, 15 on target. Marseille managed 15 shots, five of them on target.
Carrying the confidence of a perfect domestic record, Real nearly struck in the second minute. Mbappé’s bicycle kick from six yards out flashed past the far post.
Their night took an early setback in the fifth minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off injured, replaced by Dani Carvajal.
A minute later, more bad luck struck as Franco Mastantuono’s close-range effort, after rounding the keeper, hit the post.
Real kept piling on the pressure, taking four more shots in the next five minutes, but none found the net. Mbappé’s powerful strike was blocked by goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli’s legs.
Pinned back early, Marseille stunned the hosts in the 22nd minute with their first shot on target.
Arda Güler miscontrolled a short pass from Dean Hausen in midfield, Mason Greenwood pounced, surged forward, and slipped the ball right to Tim Weah, who blasted a fierce shot past Real’s keeper.
Six minutes later, Mbappé equalized from the penalty spot after Rodrygo was fouled in the box.
In the 33rd minute, Aurélien Tchouaméni’s thunderous drive from outside the box was tipped wide by Rulli. Both sides flirted with mistakes soon after but failed to capitalize; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s shot was off target and Mbappé’s next attempt was blocked.
Mastantuono, excellent throughout the first half, spurned a golden chance just before the break. Found in space by Mbappé, the 18-year-old’s shot from inside the box was denied by a flying Rulli.
Real started the second half with the same intensity. In the 50th minute, Mbappé’s strike deflected off a defender, looped over Rulli, and clipped the crossbar.
The most dramatic moment came in the 70th minute. After an altercation with the Marseille goalkeeper inside the box, Carvajal lost his temper and headbutted Rulli near the eye. Following a VAR review, the referee showed him a straight red card.
Down to 10 men, Real’s attacking edge didn’t fade. Vinícius Júnior, coming on for Rodrygo, repeatedly broke down the left. In one such attack, the ball struck Facundo Medina’s arm inside the box, earning Real another penalty. Mbappé stepped up in the 81st minute to give his team the lead.
Marseille pushed forward late, creating a few good chances, but the 15-time champions held firm to see out the win.
