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09/16 16:54 CDT Mbappe scores 2 as Real Madrid wins on opening night of
Champions League; Arsenal subs deliver
Mbappe scores 2 as Real Madrid wins on opening night of Champions League;
Arsenal subs deliver
By ANDREW DAMPF
AP Sports Writer
Kylian Mbapp converted two penalties and 10-man Real Madrid came back to beat
visiting Marseille 2-1 on Tuesday 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 Mbapp 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.
Mbapp 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 United States 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.
Arsenal subs decisive 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. Union's memorable debut Competition newcomer Union Saint-Gilloise made a memorable debut, as the Belgian club won 3-1 across the border at PSV Eindhoven. 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. Union, which qualified by winning the Belgian league for the first time in 90 years, is one of four clubs making their competition debuts this season. The others are Bodo/Glimt (from Norway), Kairat (Kazakhstan) and Pafos (Cyprus). Argentine defender Kevin Mac Allister, who is named for Macaulay Culkin's character in "Home Alone," made it 3-0 from close range in the 81st. Ruben van Bommel --- the son of former Netherlands standout Mark van Bommel --- scored for PSV in the 90th. PSV had gone unbeaten in its previous 11 group or league matches in UEFA competition. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer |
