Star forward Kylian Mbappé achieved a significant career milestone, scoring his 50th goal for Real Madrid, as the Spanish giants secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Olympique de Marseille. This thrilling encounter marked their opening fixture in the UEFA Champions League, earning Real Madrid three vital points.
Mbappé showcased his clinical prowess by converting two penalty kicks, demonstrating the exact form desired by manager Xabi Alonso. The French international’s recent performances have been exceptional, with this brace bringing his tally to five goals in his last five appearances for the club.
The visitors, Olympique de Marseille, initially took the lead in the 22nd minute through American forward Timothy Weah. However, despite their early advantage, Marseille ultimately surrendered all three points at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium as Mbappé’s two goals turned the tide. Real Madrid’s victory was particularly impressive as they overcame adversity, playing with ten men for a significant portion of the match. Captain Dani Carvajal, who had only been on the pitch for five minutes after replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold, received a red card following a head collision with Marseille’s goalkeeper.
These two crucial goals not only secured the win but also cemented the 26-year-old striker’s place in Real Madrid’s history books, reaching the 50-goal mark in just 64 appearances since the beginning of the 2024-25 season.
Post-match, Mbappé shared his thoughts on his performance and the team’s strategy. “I feel truly good; I always strive to be myself and consistently consider the entire team,” Mbappé stated. “Mr. Alonso emphasizes the importance of quick ball recovery, so we understand our responsibilities and execute them decisively because winning is our ultimate goal. I follow his instructions to chase the ball quickly, which in turn creates more goal-scoring opportunities for us.”
For the 2025-26 season, Mbappé has already notched up six goals, with four of them coming in La Liga matches and two in the UEFA Champions League.
In the Champions League clash, Real Madrid’s starting eleven featured Rodrygo and promising young talent Franco Mastantuono, while Vinicius Jr. was notably among the substitutes for the second time this new season.
Elsewhere in the Champions League opening fixtures, Arsenal secured a confident 2-0 away victory against Athletic Bilbao, with manager Mikel Arteta expressing high hopes for his team’s title challenge. Union St. Gilloise triumphed over Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven with a convincing 3-1 scoreline. Azerbaijani club Qarabag FK made history by scoring three goals in a UCL group stage match for the first time, clinching a thrilling 3-2 win against Portuguese giants SL Benfica. One of the most electrifying matches saw Juventus draw 4-4 with Borussia Dortmund in an eight-goal spectacle, with both teams sharing a point. Finally, Tottenham Hotspur, under the guidance of manager Thomas Frank in his European debut, earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Spanish side Villarreal.
