Real Madrid vs Marseille: Mbappé’s Two Penalties Seal Dramatic 2–1 Champions League Win — Full Timeline, Lineups & Analysis

Real Madrid vs Marseille: Real Madrid came from behind to beat Marseille 2–1 at the Santiago Bernabéu as Kylian Mbappé netted two penalties. Read the full Real Madrid vs Marseille timeline, confirmed lineups, tactical analysis, player grades, match implications and authoritative sources. (Real Madrid vs Olympique de Marseille, Champions League)

Quick result (TL;DR)

Real Madrid 2 — Olympique de Marseille 1 (Champions League, Santiago Bernabéu).
Goals: Timothy Weah (22′) put Marseille ahead; Kylian Mbappé (pen, 26′) equalised; Mbappé converted a late penalty (87′) to win it after Dani Carvajal was sent off. The match saw early injuries, a tense second half and heavy debate about the decisive late handball call.

Why this match mattered

• Champions League curtain-raiser: This was Real Madrid’s opening group-stage fixture — a game where a win at home keeps pressure off for the rest of the group.
• High stakes, high drama: A comeback victory while reduced to 10 men and with the captain dismissed makes this a defining early-season moment for Xabi Alonso as Madrid boss.
• Controversy and talking points: The red card for Dani Carvajal (for a head-butt) and the late handball penalty that decided the game drew strong reaction from Marseille’s bench and coach Roberto De Zerbi. Those incidents will be dissected by pundits and referees alike.

[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]

Background ahead of kick-off

Real Madrid returned to the Bernabéu for their first Champions League fixture of the 2025-26 season with a fresh — and star-studded — front line that includes Kylian Mbappé and a midfield built to control games. Marseille, coached by Roberto De Zerbi, arrived in Spain with a well-balanced squad featuring the experience of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and the pace of Timothy Weah; they were expected to be compact and dangerous on the break. Pre-match build-ups highlighted fitness questions (Trent Alexander-Arnold reportedly carrying a knock in warm-ups) and tactical puzzles around how De Zerbi would handle Real’s fluid attackers.

Confirmed lineups (official sources)

Real Madrid (4-3-3) — Starting XI

Courtois; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eder Militao, Dean Huijsen, Álvaro Carreras; Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde, Arda Güler; Mastantuono, Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo.
(Real Madrid official starting XI release).

Olympique de Marseille (4-2-3-1) — Starting XI

Gerónimo Rulli; Emerson, Benjamin Pavard, Leonardo Balerdi, Facundo Medina; Geoffrey Kondogbia, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg; Mason Greenwood, Matthew O’Riley, Timothy Weah; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (or similar confirmed across outlets). Multiple outlets confirmed Marseille’s XI including Rulli in goal and Weah/Aubameyang in attack.

(Note: check the official UEFA match page or club sources for the precise minute-by-minute squad changes and substitutes.)

Full match timeline — minute-by-minute highlights

0′ — Kick-off at the Santiago Bernabéu. Atmosphere electric for Madrid’s European return.

4′ — Early disruption: Trent Alexander-Arnold goes down injured in the opening minutes and is replaced by Arda Güler shortly after — an early blow to Madrid’s right flank. (Sources reported Trent suffering an early issue.)

22′ — Marseille 1–0 — Timothy Weah smashes the opener after a defensive miscue: Arda Guler’s turnover allowed Mason Greenwood to craft a dangerous move and Weah finished with power. Marseille take a shock lead at the Bernabéu.

26′ — Real Madrid 1–1 (Mbappé pen) — A foul in the box (Geoffrey Kondogbia implicated) awarded a penalty to Real; Kylian Mbappé confidently strokes home the spot-kick to level the score. The match is back on even terms.

HT — 1–1 — Both teams go in at the break with plenty to fix. Marseille can be pleased with their attacking courage; Madrid must address right-side instability.

Second half — Tactical tweaks: Xabi Alonso adjusts, and Marseille try to sit deeper in moments. Chances come and go, both goalkeepers tested.

72′ — Moment of tension — Dani Carvajal receives a straight red for a head-butt against Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli after an on-pitch altercation; Madrid are reduced to 10 men and will have to defend numerically for the remainder. (Carvajal was dismissed and left the pitch under a heavy spotlight).

87′ — Real Madrid 2–1 (Mbappé pen) — A late handball by Facundo Medina is adjudged inside the area after a VAR check; Mbappé steps up again and sends Rulli the wrong way. Madrid take a 2–1 lead with minutes to spare; Marseille protests vocally.

Full-time — 2–1 — Madrid hang on despite playing with ten men. Emotion and controversy headline the post-match reaction.

💪 ¡Madrid come back to win Champions League opener!

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 16, 2025

The five load-bearing facts (quick references)

1. Final score: Real Madrid 2–1 Marseille.
2. Scorers: Timothy Weah (Marseille) 22′; Kylian Mbappé (pens) 26′ & 87′.
3. Red card: Dani Carvajal sent off for head-butting Gerónimo Rulli in the 72nd minute.
4. Injury: Trent Alexander-Arnold left the game early with an injury and was substituted.
5. Controversial late penalty: A handball by Facundo Medina was VAR-checked and awarded; Mbappé’s 87th-minute penalty decided the match and drew protests from Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi.