Mbappe scores 2 as Real Madrid win on opening night of Champions League
LONDON: Kylian Mbappe converted two penalties and 10-man Real Madrid came back to beat visiting Marseille 2-1 on the opening night of the Champions League.
The victory meant that 15-time champion Madrid became the first team in competition history — since the rebranding in the early 1990s — to reach 200 wins. And it gave former Madrid playing standout Xabi Alonso a victory in his Champions League debut as the club’s coach. Timothy Weah put visiting Marseille ahead early on but Mbappe struck back from the penalty spot in the 29th and 81st.
The first penalty came after a foul on Rodrygo and the second for a handball by a defender. Mbappe now has 50 goals in 64 matches with Madrid.
“We are happy that he keeps scoring goals and has been feeling more and more comfortable,” Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde said of the France star. “Our job is to make sure the ball gets to him and that he can have even more scoring opportunities than he is having now.” Madrid captain Dani Carvajal was sent off in the 72nd for headbutting Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. Weah — a US international and the son of former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah — was set up by Mason Greenwood, who stripped Madrid’s Arda Guler near midfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Champions League debut for Madrid lasted only five minutes. The England defender was replaced by Carvajal because of an apparent muscle injury. Spanish police clashed with Marseille fans before the match but the situation was controlled quickly. An early own goal from goalkeeper Luiz Junior gave Tottenham a 1-0 win over visiting Villarreal. Borussia Dortmund and Juventus drew 4-4 in Turin. Juventus substitute Dusan Vlahovic scored one goal in stoppage time and then set up the equalizer for English defender Lloyd Kelly. Qarabag came from two goals down to win 3-2 at Benfica. In the second season of the new league-phase format, the top eight teams advance to the round of 16. The next 16 teams enter a two-leg playoff, with eight advancing.
Viktor Gyokeres was off target in his Champions League debut for Arsenal. The London club’s substitutes were decisive, though, in a 2-0 win for the Gunners at Athletic Bilbao. Gabriel Martinelli scored less than a minute after he came on and Leandro Trossard — who had replaced Gyokeres — doubled the lead 15 minutes later. Gyokeres — Arsenal’s prized signing who scored six Champions League goals for Sporting Lisbon last season — missed a golden chance shortly after the break. The Sweden international evaded his marker with ease and rose to meet a well-placed free kick from Declan Rice but his header went well wide of the target. Martinelli and Trossard also provided the assists on each other’s goals.
The first goal of this season’s competition was a penalty kick converted by Canada international Promise David. The penalty was awarded when United States international Ricardo Pepi harshly landed his boot into the leg of Union’s English center back Christian Burgess. Goalkeeper Matej Kovar then went the wrong way on the spot kick in the ninth minute. Another error by Pepi led to Union’s second before the break, a dribbling exhibition and expert finish by Anouar Ait El Hadj. Web Desk
