Kylian Mbappe climbed to joint fifth place in the all-time Champions League and European Cup scoring charts as Real Madrid secured a hard-fought win over Inter Milan.
The French forward broke the deadlock after just 14 minutes, slotting home with precision from the edge of the area. That strike took his tally to 71 goals in 99 appearances in the competition, drawing him level with former Real Madrid great Raul, who needed 142 matches to reach the same figure.
Only Karim Benzema, Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo sit above him in the standings, with their respective totals at 90, 109, 129, and 140 goals.
Mbappe leads the charge for Real Madrid
The Spanish side doubled their lead in the 23rd minute with their second shot on target, though the goal came courtesy of a glaring error from Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez. The shot-stopper miscontrolled a back pass from Benjamin Pavard, allowing Federico Valverde to steal the ball and roll it into an empty net.
Martinez redeemed himself before the interval, producing two sharp stops in quick succession to deny Mbappe and Jude Bellingham. Real Madrid then struck the post as they continued to press forward.
Inter had their own chances early on, with Thibaut Courtois making his 100th Champions League appearance and thwarting attempts from Hakan Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez.
End-to-end action between Real Madrid and Inter
The Serie A side came close again when former Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones rattled the crossbar. Inter also brought on John Stones, who lifted the Champions League with Manchester City in 2023.
Bellingham then squandered a golden opportunity to make it 3-0 for the hosts. That miss proved costly as Inter gradually clawed their way back into the match.
Carlos Augusto pulled one back in the 77th minute, firing low into the corner and setting up a nervy finale for both sides, with the tie carrying extra significance given the managerial history between the two clubs.
Real Madrid fans show their frustration
Even with the win secured, the home supporters were far from pleased with the overall display. Whistles and jeers could be heard from the stands as the game wore on.
Real Madrid managed to hold on for all three points, while Mbappe’s early goal allowed him to match Raul’s record of 71 Champions League and European Cup goals and move into joint fifth on the tournament’s all-time scoring list.