Madrid come back to win Champions League opener

Real Madrid came from behind to claim victory in their Champions League opener, their 200th match in this competition format. Weah put the visitors ahead in the 22nd minute and Mbappé equalised from the penalty spot in the 28th minute. After the interval, Xabi Alonso's side hit the woodwork for the second time before the match descended into chaos. Carvajal was sent off in the 71st minute and, with everything against them, Madrid turned the result around at the Bernabéu. Mbappé, again from the penalty spot, made it 2-1 in the 81st minute, reaching 50 goals for Madrid and continuing their winning run in the five official matches played this season.

Real Madrid came out all guns blazing and almost took the lead on several occasions before the ten-minute mark. In the second minute, Mbappé's overhead kick missed the target by inches. Four minutes later, Mastantuono robbed Medina of the ball on the right wing, raced into the box and beat Rulli but the post denied him. The chances kept coming and in the 9th minute, Rodrygo's shot from the edge of the area landed in the goalkeeper's hands, who a minute later did well to deny Mbappé. The Frenchman produced a brilliant turn to beat Pavard, but Rulli was equal to the Frenchman's shot inside the area.

Check out all the videos from the game on RM Play

It was a high-tempo contest and in the 14th minute, Weah tried his luck when he cut inside Carvajal, who had replaced Trent five minutes earlier, and fired a thumping shot from the edge of the box just centimetres over the bar. Eight minutes later, the visiting striker made no mistake when one-on-one with Courtois to make it 0-1. It was time to mount a comeback, and in the 28th minute, Rodrygo was clearly brought down by Kondogbia inside the area. Mbappé made no mistake from the penalty spot to level the score.

Chances
The two sides continued to trade blows, and just after the half-hour mark, Xabi Alonso's charges had another chance with a terrific shot from Tchouameni, forcing Rulli to come to the rescue once again. The French side countered in the 39th minute. The goalkeeper sent a long ball forward, which, after a rebound, was picked up by Aubameyang, who found himself one-on-one with Courtois, but he shot into the side netting. Then, immediately afterwards, Tchouameni stole the ball under pressure and it dropped to Mbappé, who shot from the edge of the area. Rulli, who was having a magnificent first half, once again prevented the goal with another last-ditch save. He did the same in added time after a magisterial assist from Mbappé to Mastantuono, who shot unopposed inside the area only to find the visiting goalkeeper's saving hands.

Hosts hit woodwork again
After the restart, the Whites came out on top and thumped another shot against the woodwork, this time, it was the crossbar. Mbappé struck from the edge of the area in the 50th minute, Aubameyang got a foot to it and the ball took such a wicked deflection that only the crossbar prevented it from being 2-1. The minutes ticked by and 18 minutes later Emerson came to his team's rescue on the goal line. Arda Güler took the corner, Carvajal flicked the ball just enough to surprise the defence and the ball rolled across the opposition's area until the Brazilian defender cleared it. And just as the new corner was about to be taken, Rulli and Carvajal clashed and the goalkeeper fell to the ground. The referee, after being alerted by VAR and watching the incident on the monitor, decided to send off the Madrid captain.

Things got complicated with one player down, but this was Real Madrid and the European Cup. Vini Jr. played a one-two with Mbappé in the 81st minute and his shot was intercepted by Medina, who first blocked it with his foot and then with his hand. The referee awarded a penalty and Mbappé scored his second goal from the spot. From then until the end, Xabi Alonso's men managed to hold on to their lead to secure their 200th victory in the Champions League.