Kylian Mbappe scored twice for Real Madrid against Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday to take his tally to 50 goals in 64 matches for Los Blancos. The France international has now become the fastest player to reach a half-century of goals for Real Madrid since Cristiano Ronaldo hit the landmark in 2010 by hitting his 51st goal in just 54 appearances.
Mbappe penalties see off Marseille
Real Madrid came from behind to beat Marseille 2-1 in their opening Champions League encounter. Tim Weah opened the scoring for the visitors but Mbappe equalised from the penalty spot after Rodrygo had been fouled. Los Blancos were then reduced to 10 men when Dani Carvajal was sent off for bumping heads with Geronimo Rulli, before Mbappe won it with another penalty after Facundo Medina was penalised for handball.
AdvertisementFifty not out for Mbappe at Real Madrid
The two goals mean Mbappe has hit his half-century for Real Madrid and is the second fastest player to hit the landmark since Ronaldo. Manager Xabi Alonso hailed his talisman after the game. He told Movistar: "Mbappé hasn't been bad… in his best shape… with two goals. He has a tremendous impact on the rest and is in a good moment personally and football-wise. Happy to be with him and working day to day. We have a lot left and we're just getting started."
Mbappe needs the pressure
Mbappe was quizzed on the pressure of taking penalties after the game and says he thrives in such situations. He told UEFA: "I need to feel it. I think I need to feel it. Every player needs to feel the pressure. I think it's important to be focused and to have to do your best. It's important to have the pressure. I feel the pressure and I often rise to it. At the end of the day, I was happy to have two penalties today and to score, to help the team win the first game in the Champions League.
"This is the DNA of Real Madrid. Whatever happens you can always win. You have to trust yourself, you have to trust your team-mates. All the people around you, the stadium, they push you to win. That's what we did today. When we got the read card, nobody in the team was stressed. We wanted to push and be ready to get the win and give this pleasure to the fans."
Getty Images SportReal Madrid face surprise package next in La Liga
Real Madrid return to La Liga action on Saturday and face surprise package Espanyol. The unbeaten Catalan team head into the match in third place in the table and can move above Los Blancos in the standings if they pull off a surprise win at the Santiago Bernabeu.
