Key Takeaways:
- Real Madrid secured a 2-1 away victory against Inter in their opening UEFA Champions League league phase fixture
- Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde capitalised on Inter mistakes to put Los Blancos two goals up inside the first half
- Carlos Augusto’s late goal gave Inter hope, but Madrid held on to take all three points last night
Match Analysis
Real Madrid commenced their quest for a 16th UEFA Champions League triumph with a 2-1 win on Jose Mourinho’s return to the San Siro, where his Inter side famously captured the trophy in 2010. Despite a promising start that hinted at an upset and raised hopes of ending a dismal run of five losses in their last six Champions League games, Inter were undone by a frantic 10-minute period in the first half.
The hosts threatened early through Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Martinez, and Hakan Calhanoglu, but it was Madrid who broke the deadlock. A mix-up involving Yann Bisseck allowed Brahim Diaz to tee up Kylian Mbappe for a composed finish. Madrid doubled their advantage minutes later when Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez misjudged a back-pass, allowing Federico Valverde to steer the ball into an empty net.
🙌 ¡Estreno con victoria en la Champions! pic.twitter.com/MRhPuii95y
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 8, 2026
Key Moments and Player Performances
Inter’s fortune failed to improve as Curtis Jones rattled the woodwork, while Martinez atoned somewhat with a pair of excellent saves from Mbappe and Jude Bellingham to close out the first half. After the restart, Martinez denied Mbappe again with a well-timed advance and retreat, frustrating the French striker.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Inter spurning more chances: Jones saw a powerful effort saved by Courtois from a tight angle, and Thuram fired over after Calhanoglu’s incisive pass. At the other end, Martinez produced further stops to prevent Bellingham and Mbappe from extending Madrid’s lead.
Inter eventually halved the deficit with just under 15 minutes to play, as Lautaro Martinez’s byline run set up Carlos Augusto, whose finish narrowly evaded Ibrahima Konate and Courtois. Despite a late push and improved possession retention, Inter were unable to draw level, and Madrid saw out the result to claim all three points.
Implications and Outlook
Victory hands Real Madrid the perfect start in their campaign to reach June’s final in Madrid, staged at the home of cross-town rivals Atletico. Inter, meanwhile, extended their poor run in the Champions League since their final appearance in 2025. Nevertheless, the hosts’ attacking intent and improvement under Cristian Chivu may offer grounds for optimism, as he aims to emulate his achievements as a player in the competition sixteen years ago.
