Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi has lashed out at the referee decision to award Real Madrid a penalty during their Champions League clash on Tuesday night.
Real Madrid opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over Marseille, but controversy overshadowed the result. Dani Carvajal was shown a red card for headbutting goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, while Kylian Mbappe struck twice from the spot to secure victory.
With the game tied at 1-1 following a goal from Tim Weah and a Kylian Mbappe penalty, Marseille were given the chance to play against ten men after Los Blancos’ captain Carvajal was issued a red card.
Carvajal headbutted Marseille goalkeeper Rulli following a heated exchange in the Marseille box and after VAR review, was sent off.
Dani CARVAJAL receives a red card during the UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 match between Real Madrid and Marseille. (Photo by Hugo Pfeiffer/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
However, Marseille were forced to pay for their missed chances after a Madrid attack ended with the ball hitting the arm of Facundo Medina as he slid in the box. The referee pointed to the spot and Kylian Mbappe stepped up to convert in the 81st minute to make it 2-1.
De Zerbi was left furious by the decision to give the handball, even referencing Madrid’s weekend controversy that saw Dean Huijsen sent off in La Liga.
He said: “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.”
He also reflected on Carvajal’s red card, saying: “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.”
Despite losing Carvajal, who had replaced the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold just five minutes in, French hero Kylian Mbappe once again proved to be the main man.
The forward netted twice from the penalty spot, in the 28th and 81st minutes, to seal victory for Madrid and also achieve a new milestone in the competition.
