MADRID; Kylian Mbappe converted two penalties to secure Real Madrid a 2-1 victory over Marseille in their Champions League group stage opener despite playing the final stages with 10 men after captain Dani Carvajal was sent off.

The Estadio Santiago Bernabeu was the stage for a dramatic match, with moments of brilliance from the goalkeepers, a glaring error from a young star and late controversy leaving fans on the edge of their seats.

Real Madrid began on the front foot despite coach Xabi Alonso being forced into an early substitution when fullback Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered a leg injury three minutes after kickoff.

Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli was their standout performer in the first half, denying Madrid on 10 occasions, including a stunning one-handed save to thwart Mbappe from point-blank range.

It was Marseille who drew first blood in the 22nd minute when Timothy Weah capitalised on a costly mistake by Arda Guler. Mbappe levelled from a penalty before the match took a dramatic turn in the 72nd

“It was a difficult night, because we were down to 10 men, but we showed our Champions League spirit at the Santiago Bernabeu minute when Carvajal was sent off for head-butting Rulli.

Mbappe had the final word in the 87th minute, however, after substitute Vinicius Jr made a great run and the ball deflected off Facundo Medina’s boot and struck the defender’s outstretched arm.

Benfica upset

Benfica let slip an early two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Qarabag with Oleksiy Kashchuk netting the Azerbaijani side’s winner four minutes from time.

The hosts looked in control when Enzo Barrenechea put them ahead in the sixth minute with a glancing header from a corner and Vangelis Pavlidis shot on the turn to double the lead 10 minutes later.

Leandro Andrade smashed a first-time shot past keeper Anatoliy Trubin, however, and Qarabag came close to drawing level when Kady Borges hit the post and Trubin made an excellent save from Marko Jankovic’s follow-up effort.

Qarabag were level three minutes after the interval when Camilo Duran ran on to a defence-splitting pass from Marko Jankovic and smacked a first-time shot into the far corner but the visitors were not done yet.

A long punt forward from the Qarabag keeper found Kashchuk just outside the area and he played a one-two with Abdellah Zoubir before stroking a shot past Trubin to stun the Estadio da Luz.

Union dues pay

Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise made a dream debut in the Champions League group phase by stunning hosts PSV Eindhoven 3-1 in a feisty derby against their Dutch counterparts.

Union, who won the Belgian title for the first time in 90 years last season, earned their first points as Promise David converted an early penalty and Anouar Ait El Hadj ran half the length of the pitch to add a second before the interval.

Defender Kevin Mac Allister bundled home the third 10 minutes from time, forcing the ball over the line with his knees from a corner, to complete a shock result.

PSV grabbed a last-minute consolation through new signing Ruben van Bommel but it failed to put any gloss on a miserable night for the Dutch champions.

Turin drama

Dusan Vlahovic and Lloyd Kelly scored in stoppage time to inspire a dramatic Juventus escape as they secured a 4-4 draw at home to Borussia Dortmund, with all eight goals coming after the break.

The hosts trailed 4-2 when substitute Vlahovic grabbed his second of the night in the fourth minute of stoppage time, before he set up Kelly two minutes later to secure a point.

Dortmund achieved a breakthrough eight minutes into the second half as Karim Adeyemi rifled a precise shot into the far corner from just outside the box.

They nearly doubled their lead when Serhou Guirassy was denied by a reflex stop from Juventus keeper Michele Di Gregorio.

The hosts drew level in the 63rd minute through Kenan Yildiz, who collected the ball on the edge of the area, steadied himself and bent a superb shot into the far corner to ignite the Juventus fans.

The celebrations were short-lived, however, as Felix Nmecha restored Dortmund’s advantage barely two minutes later with a crisp first-time finish from distance.

The game’s tempo showed no sign of slowing, and by the 68th minute Juventus were level once more, Vlahovic racing onto a perfectly weighted pass to slot past Kobel.

The frenzy continued in the 74th minute, when Yan Couto’s low strike squirmed between Di Gregorio and the post to put Dortmund back in front.

The visitors were awarded a penalty four minutes from time after Kelly was penalised for handball, with Ramy Bensebaini converting from the spot.

Juve launched a last-ditch offensive and deep into stoppage time, Vlahovic struck again from a well-placed cross before turning provider for Kelly, who headed in the equaliser.

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