Real Madrid began their Champions League campaign with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Marseille at the Santiago Bernabéu, highlighted by Kylian Mbappé’s two penalties. The match marked a historic moment for the club, as they became the first team to achieve 200 wins in Champions League history since its rebranding in the early 1990s.

Marseille initially took the lead in the 22nd minute when Timothy Weah scored, capitalizing on a defensive error from Real. However, the home side quickly responded when Mbappé converted a penalty in the 29th minute after Rodrygo was fouled in the box by Geoffrey Kondogbia. A key moment occurred in the 72nd minute when Real Madrid's captain, Dani Carvajal, was sent off for a headbutt on Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, reducing the team to ten men. Despite this setback, Madrid maintained their composure, and a second penalty was awarded in the 81st minute when Vinícius Júnior’s shot struck Facundo Medina’s hand. Mbappé again stepped up to convert, securing the comeback win.

Real's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had a relatively quiet evening, with Marseille failing to register a single shot on target, while Madrid struggled offensively, managing just one shot on target throughout the match. Xabi Alonso, in his Champions League debut as Real's coach, expressed satisfaction with the team's resilience and willingness to fight for the win, particularly in light of their numerical disadvantage later in the game. The victory sets a positive tone for their Champions League campaign as they strive to reclaim their status as European champions.