Real Madrid overcame a series of setbacks to claim a hard-fought win over Marseille in their first Champions League clash of the season.
The Spanish giants were dealt an immediate blow when Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off just three minutes in with what appeared to be a hamstring issue. His replacement, Dani Carvajal, was later dismissed with 18 minutes remaining after clashing with Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and moving his head towards him.
Despite being a player down, the 15-time European champions found a way to prevail, thanks to two penalties converted by Kylian Mbappe. The French forward has now scored six goals in five matches for the club this term.
Marseille strikes first, but Madrid respond
Timothy Weah opened the scoring for the visitors in the 22nd minute, smashing a powerful shot past Thibaut Courtois after Mason Greenwood had dispossessed Arda Guler in midfield.
Their advantage lasted only six minutes. Mbappe, who had earlier come close with a bicycle kick, equalized from the spot after Geoffrey Kondogbia brought down Rodrygo inside the area.
Marseille pushed to regain the lead as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed two chances – dragging one wide and seeing another pushed away by Courtois.
Mbappe seals win and Alexander-Arnold faces setback
Real continued to threaten even after Carvajal’s sending off, and they were rewarded when Facundo Medina handled while trying to halt Vinicius Jr. Mbappe stepped up again and drove his second penalty beyond Rulli, who dived the correct way but could not stop it.
Madrid, seeking to reclaim the European crown after falling to Arsenal in last season’s quarter-finals, next travels to Kazakhstan to meet Kairat on 30 September. Marseille will host Ajax that same night.
For Alexander-Arnold, it was a frustrating first Champions League appearance for his new side. The right-back, who left Liverpool in the summer, may now miss a potential return to Anfield on 4 November depending on how serious the injury proves to be. He has started only two of Madrid’s four league matches and was not selected for England’s recent World Cup qualifiers.
