Kylian Mbappe Matches Raul's Champions League Goal Record as Real Madrid Edge Inter 2-1
Kylian Mbappe scored his 71st goal in the Champions League, helping Real Madrid secure a 2-1 victory against Inter at the Santiago Bernabeu. This goal tied him with the legendary Raul for fifth place on the all-time Champions League scorers list.
Real Madrid Takes Early Control
The France captain opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a precise finish from inside the box. Just nine minutes later, Jose Mourinho's team doubled their lead thanks to an error from Inter’s defense. Goalkeeper Josep Martinez mishandled a back pass from Benjamin Pavard, allowing Federico Valverde to tap the ball into an empty net.
Despite Inter pushing hard to close the gap, they fell short. Carlos Augusto scored in the 77th minute to bring hope for the visitors, but Real Madrid held firm to claim the win.
Mbappe's Milestone and Champions League Rankings
This 71st goal came in only 99 appearances for Mbappe, moving him alongside Raul, who reached this mark in 142 matches. Ahead of them are Cristiano Ronaldo with 140 goals, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, and Karim Benzema.
Thibaut Courtois Celebrates 100th Champions League Appearance
The goalkeeper made several crucial saves throughout the match. Early attempts from Hakan Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez were denied by Courtois, who helped maintain Real's lead. Martinez redeemed himself somewhat with a double save to stop Mbappe and Jude Bellingham before halftime. The post also played a part, denying Inter on one occasion.
Inter kept pressing late into the game, hitting the crossbar through Curtis Jones and forcing tense moments after Augusto’s goal. Bellingham missed a chance to extend Real's lead to 3-0 during the first half.
Upcoming Fixtures
- Real Madrid will now turn their focus to LaLiga, facing Rayo Vallecano on September 12.
- Inter look to recover from this loss when they meet Udinese in Serie A on September 14.
