Mbappe scores 2 as Real Madrid win on opening night of Champions League; Arsenal subs deliver

Mbappe scores 2 as Real Madrid win on opening night of Champions League; Arsenal subs deliver
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe shoots a penalty kick to score his side’s second goal during a Champions League opening phase football match between Real Madrid and Marseille at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid Tuesday. (AP)
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Updated 17 September 2025

Mbappe scores 2 as Real Madrid win on opening night of Champions League; Arsenal subs deliver

Mbappe scores 2 as Real Madrid win on opening night of Champions League; Arsenal subs deliver
  • 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
  • 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

LONDON: Kylian Mbappe 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 Mbappe 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.

Mbappe 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 US 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 Bodø/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.


Formula E’s GEN4 sets new standards for power, sustainability in motorsport

Formula E’s GEN4 sets new standards for power, sustainability in motorsport
Updated 41 min 6 sec ago

Formula E’s GEN4 sets new standards for power, sustainability in motorsport

Formula E’s GEN4 sets new standards for power, sustainability in motorsport
  • GEN4 delivers a major leap forward in power and technology, with 600kW of output and active all-wheel drive, making it the fastest and most challenging Formula E car to date
  • GEN4 features two aerodynamic configurations — high and low downforce — while 700kW regenerative braking enables the car to recover up to 40% of its race energy

RIYADH: Formula E and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) have unveiled the all-new GEN4 race car — the most advanced, powerful, and sustainable machine in Formula E history — setting a new benchmark for electric racing innovation and performance.

Set to debut in the 2026/27 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the GEN4 delivers a major leap forward in power and technology, with 600kW of output (equivalent to over 815 horsepower) and active all-wheel drive, making it the fastest and most challenging Formula E car to date.

“The GEN4 is far more than a race car,” said Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E. “It represents over a decade of progress, innovation, and ambition in electric racing. Co-developed with the FIA, it stands as the most advanced, demanding, and sustainable machine we’ve ever built, redefining what’s possible in performance and environmental responsibility.”

The GEN4 features two aerodynamic configurations — high downforce for qualifying and low downforce for races — while 700kW regenerative braking enables the car to recover up to 40 percent of its race energy. With 450kW peak race power, 600kW ATTACK MODE, and a 55kWh energy capacity, the next-generation car is designed to deliver bold strategies and intense wheel-to-wheel action.

“The GEN4 is designed for the pioneers of tomorrow,” said Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer of Formula E. “Its power and active all-wheel drive will test our drivers like never before. Together with the FIA, we’ve created the most challenging Formula E car to master — built for wheel-to-wheel battles and pure racing action.”

Leading the charge in sustainability, the GEN4 features 100 percent recyclable materials, with at least 20 percent recycled content used in its construction. Every component — from the battery systems to tires and bodywork — is designed for circularity and reduced environmental impact.

“We are very proud to present the innovative GEN4 Formula E single-seater — a car that once again raises the bar in terms of electric technology in motorsport,” said Marek Nawarecki, FIA Senior Circuit Sport Director. “This new framework will allow manufacturers to showcase road-relevant technologies like never before, marking the dawn of a bright new era for Formula E.”

’s growing role in Formula E

In a round table with media ahead of the announcement, Jeff Dodds praised ’s continued impact on the championship and its growing role in shaping Formula E’s future.

“, the Kingdom of , Aisha, is a key partner for us,” he told Arab News. “We have sponsorship partners and arrangements with the Public Investment Fund of , with SABIC, the chemical company, with Saudia the airline. So we have a kind of deep-rooted relationship with the Kingdom. We’ve been racing there for a very long time.”

He added that Jeddah’s night race remains one of the most spectacular stops on the Formula E calendar.

“Jeddah, for me, is a really interesting location because what you have is a permanent facility with all the lovely things that come with that, but you have a road-style layout, so it allows us to stay true to our DNA,” he said. “It just so happens that we also have the luxury of having a night race as well, which, of course, with the drones and the fireworks and the lights around the car or the neon parts of the car, just creates an incredible spectacle.”

While the race calendar for Gen4 has yet to be announced, Dodds teased a special moment for fans at the upcoming Jeddah event.

“We actually have a little surprise around the race in Jeddah coming up this year, so you’re definitely going to see some interesting things around the race weekend,” he said.

Dodds also underlined that ’s role extends beyond racing.

“The Kingdom is investing very heavily in next generation energy transition and sustainability, and that is an area we do a lot of partnership with,” he said. “So there’s certainly a key sustainability partner for us as we explore next generation technologies in that space.”

The GEN4 will now enter testing with Porsche, Nissan, Stellantis, Jaguar, and Lola Cars, as manufacturers prepare to fine-tune its performance ahead of the 2026/27 season — marking the beginning of Formula E’s most electrifying chapter yet.