Real Madrid 2-1 Olympique Marseille Player Ratings: Kylian Mbappe 9/10 Rated as the Los Blancos Secure a Comeback Win 2-1

Real Madrid hosted Marseille at the Santiago Bernabeu on September 16, 2025, in a gripping Champions League group stage match. The host side was led by the French striker Kylian Mbappe, supported by Franco Mastantuono, Arda Guler, and Rodrygo in attack. Marseille, led upfront by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, took an early lead through Timothy Weah before Mbappe leveled the score with a composed penalty in the 28th minute. Los Blancos dominated possession and created numerous chances, but Marseille’s organized defense and quick counters kept the game competitive. Early injury forced Trent off, disrupting Madrid’s defensive rhythm.

But the drama escalated when Daniel Carvajal received a red card in the 72nd minute, reducing Real Madrid to ten men. Despite the setback, Real continued to press forward, and Mbappé showcased his star quality by scoring his second goal in the 81st minute, giving Real Madrid the lead. Marseille fought hard in the final minutes but could not find an equalizer. Real Madrid’s resilience and clinical finishing earned them a hard-fought 2-1 victory, setting a positive tone for their Champions League campaign. Here are the Real Madrid vs Olympique Marseille player ratings.

Olympique Marseille Player Ratings vs Real Madrid

Here are the Olympique Marseille player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Gerónimo Rulli - 9.0: An absolutely colossal performance. We noticed he was on high alert from the first whistle. He made a staggering 13 saves, many of them spectacular. He was commanding, brave, and couldn't be faulted for either of the two penalties. On any other night, this performance would have earned his team at least a point. Truly a heroic effort that kept the scoreline respectable.

Defenders

Leonardo Balerdi - 6.5: A solid, if unspectacular, outing for the captain. He was generally well-positioned and made several important clearances and tackles. However, he was dribbled past on a couple of occasions which put his team under pressure. He battled hard and won most of his duels, but lacked the composure of his keeper behind him.

Benjamin Pavard - 5.5: Looked a bit off the pace to us. He picked up a yellow card and made an error that led to a shot. He seemed to struggle with the movement of Madrid's attackers. While he made a few good tackles, he also lost possession in dangerous areas. Not a night he'll want to remember.

Facundo Medina - 4.5: A really poor performance that cost his team dearly. He committed a foolish handball to give away the second, decisive penalty. On top of that, he was booked and made another error leading to a shot. He looked nervous on the ball and his decision-making was suspect throughout. A very difficult evening for the defender.

Emerson - 7.0: From our perspective, he was one of Marseille's better defenders. He was a machine in the duels, winning a remarkable 10 of them. He got forward well and was defensively tenacious. His only real blemishes were being caught offside twice, but his work rate was immense and he put in a great shift.

Midfielders

Mason Greenwood - 7.5: The primary creative spark for Marseille. He provided a lovely assist and was a constant threat with his passing, creating three key chances. The downside was losing possession 14 times, which sometimes stalled his team's momentum. A frustratingly brilliant performance; if he were more clinical, the result could've been different.

Matt O'Riley - 7.0: He was excellent before being substituted. His vision was on full display with three key passes, and he controlled the tempo in midfield for large spells. We were a bit surprised to see him taken off, as he seemed to have the measure of Madrid's midfield.

Geoffrey Kondogbia - 4.0: A disastrous outing. Marseille's midfielder was clumsy and reckless, conceding the first penalty with a silly foul. His four fouls broke up play, but not always in a good way, and his two errors leading to shots were unforgivable at this level. He looked completely overwhelmed and was rightly substituted.

Timothy Weah - 7.5: Scored a fantastic goal to give Marseille the lead and looked dangerous every time he touched the ball. His pace and directness caused Madrid's defence all sorts of problems. It was a shame his night was cut short by his substitution, as he was a real bright spot for the visitors.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg - 8.0: An absolute workhorse in the middle of the park. He was everywhere, with 96 touches and an incredible 96% pass accuracy. He created four chances and was instrumental in breaking up Madrid's play.

Forwards

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 5.5: We barely noticed he was on the pitch. He was anonymous for large stretches of the game. He missed a big chance and his passing was poor, often giving the ball away cheaply. It was a very disappointing night for a striker of his calibre.

Manager

R. De Zerbi - 6.0: His team started with a brilliant game plan that stunned Madrid. They were brave on the ball and took a deserved lead. However, his side's individual defensive errors ultimately let him down. His substitutions didn't quite have the desired impact to see out a result. A mixed bag of tactical nous and player failure.

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Olympique Marseille

Here are the Real Madrid player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Thibaut Courtois - 7.0: He had a relatively quiet night compared to his opposite number but was solid when called upon. He made four saves, including a couple of important ones. There was little he could do about Weah's well-placed goal.

Defenders

Éder Militão - 6.0: A shaky performance by his standards. He committed three fouls, earned a yellow card, and made a defensive error that led to a shot. He didn't look comfortable and struggled with Marseille's attacks at times. The Brazilian defender needs to regain his composure for the upcoming games.

Álvaro Carreras - 6.5: A mixed performance. He was strong in his duels and contributed offensively with two key passes. However, he was also booked late on and his final ball was sometimes lacking.

Dean Huijsen - 7.0: Looked very composed for a player in such a high-stakes game. He was excellent on the ball, frequently passing into the final third to start attacks. He was solid defensively and didn't put a foot wrong. What stood out to us was his calmness under pressure.

Trent Alexander-Arnold - N/A: His night was over before it really began. He was forced off with an injury just five minutes into the match. We hope it's not a serious one for him.

Midfielders

Federico Valverde - 7.0: A typically industrious performance from the captain. He ran his socks off, covering every blade of grass. He was tidy in possession and contributed with two key passes. His energy was vital in driving the team forward, especially after going a goal down.

Aurélien Tchouaméni - 7.5: A dominant presence in midfield. He made a massive five interceptions, breaking up countless Marseille attacks. He also showed his creative side with three key passes. The yellow card was a slight negative, but his overall contribution was immense.

Arda Güler - 5.5: A very tough lesson for the young talent. He was responsible for an error that led to Marseille's goal, a mistake you can't make at this level. While he showed some flashes of skill, he lost possession too often and was eventually substituted.

Rodrygo - 8.0: He was electric before being taken off. His quick feet and direct running were a nightmare for Marseille's defenders. He cleverly won the first penalty, which got his team back into the game. From our perspective, he was Madrid's most dangerous player in the first hour.

Franco Mastantuono - 6.0: So much energy, so little end product. He hit the woodwork and had six shots, but he also missed two big chances. He showed flashes of what he can do, but was often wasteful in promising positions. You can see the raw talent, but it needs refining.

Forwards

Kylian Mbappé - 9.0: The undisputed man of the match. When his team needed him, he delivered. He showed nerves of steel to convert two high-pressure penalties to win the game. He was a constant threat, taking 10 shots and always looking to make something happen. A world-class performance from a world-class player. The highest-rated player on the pitch for a reason.

Manager

X. Alonso - 7.0: He will be relieved to get the three points. His team showed good character to fight back from a goal down. His decision to trust Mbappé with the penalties paid off handsomely. However, his team's defense looked vulnerable at times, which he will need to address. A win is a win, but it wasn't a convincing performance.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Kylian Mbappe