Real Madrid secured a 2-1 win against Olympique de Marseille in their first match of the 2025/26 Champions League on September 16, at Santiago Bernabeu.
Los Blancos head coach Xabi Alonso had to make a substitution in the first five minutes of the clash as Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered an early injury and had to be replaced by Dani Carvajal on the pitch.
Marseille opened their scoring first with a goal in the 22nd minute, followed by Kylian Mbappe scoring the equalizer by successfully converting a penalty in the 28th minute.
With the scores still tied, Real Madrid were left with 10 men on the pitch after Dani Carvajal was shown a direct red card in the 72nd minute as a result of a heated exchange with Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, whom the Spaniard was seen headbutting.
Los Blancos were then awarded another penalty for a handball by the referee after Marseille defender Facundo Medina’s arm brushed the ball as he slid in the box during an attack buildup by the home side.
Mbappe found the back of the net from the spot-kick again, sealing the victory for Real Madrid.
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Following the match, Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi voiced his complaints about the second penalty awarded to Real Madrid, describing the referee’s decision as ‘shameful.’ The Italian manager also shared his thoughts on Carvajal’s red card.
What did Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi say about Real Madrid’s second penalty?
In his post-match press conference, De Zerbi firmly expressed that ‘there was no penalty,’ and told reporters,
“It’s a shameful penalty. It’s not there. I would have said that too if it had been whistled for us. For me, it’s not a penalty, never. Not at the Bernabeu, nor at the Velodrome, nor at Real Sociedad, nowhere. And I have no ulterior motive, I don’t want to cause controversy. I’m just saying that there was no penalty. Period,” as per GOAL.
De Zerbi also addressed Carvajal’s booking, and despite earning an advantage in terms of manpower on the pitch, the 46-year-old coach mentioned he ‘wouldn’t give a red card,’ and added,
“In this kind of situation, head-to-head, I wouldn’t give a red card. It’s not violent. But it’s the rule. For Real, for us, for everyone.”
Carvajal will be absent from Real Madrid’s next Champions League game against Kazakhstan Premier League club Kairat on September 30, with the possibility of serving a total of three-match suspension or more as per UEFA’s Disciplinary Code.
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