Real Madrid edges Inter Milan in Champions League opener

Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory against Inter Milan in their Champions League opener on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at Santiago Bernabeu stadium. This match marked the return of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid as coach, a significant moment given his previous success with Inter Milan in 2010.

The Spanish team quickly established a two-goal lead in the first half. Kylian Mbappe netted the first goal for Real Madrid after intercepting a poor pass from Inter's Curtis Jones. Fede Valverde then capitalized on an error by Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez, who hesitated with the ball, to double the lead.

Carlos Augusto managed to score for Inter Milan, narrowing the gap, but the Italian side couldn't find an equalizer. Defensive lapses plagued Inter, contributing to their defeat. Despite the loss, Inter's goalkeeper, Martinez, made several key saves, while Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois also performed admirably to maintain the lead.

Jude Bellingham had several opportunities to increase Madrid's lead but was unable to convert. There was also a delay in substitution involving Alvaro Carreras, as Vinicius Junior took longer than expected to exit the field.

This victory is a comeback for Real Madrid following their recent La Liga defeat, indicating a promising start to their Champions League journey. Florentino Perez's decision to bring Mourinho back seems to be yielding results as the team aims to maintain this momentum.