Assessing Real Madrid’s September Schedule: The First Real Tests of the Season | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s season has finally begun. The transfer window is over, the first few La Liga games are behind us, and Los Blancos are fired up and raring to go for the first full month of the football season.

This September will be unlike what us football fans usually see, with three weeks of action followed by a doubly long international break taking us into mid-October. Curiously enough, this means that Los Blancos’ final game of the month will come on September 20th.

However, in the two and a half weeks between now and then, there is still time to fit in five matches for the fifteen-time European champions, including some tough opposition both home and away. This month will see Real Madrid play their first Champions League match of the season, a home game against Inter, as well as an away trip to city rivals Atlético.

In this post, I’ll preview all five matches, including those two, analyse Madrid’s opposition and where Los Blancos stand against them, and ultimately give my final predictions for all five matches.

Real Betis vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s month kicks off tomorrow at the time of writing, with a trip to Seville to take on Real Betis. While Betis are always a tough outing for any club, usually finding themselves in European contention, it remains to be seen how the side will be received at their home ground following the controversial sale of youth player Pablo Garcia in order to register deadline-day signing Dani Ceballos.

Los Blancos are on a tear after scoring eight goals in their past two matches, and their early-season form will need an obstacle bigger than Betis to stop it. Despite former Atlético star Rodrigo Riquelme’s best efforts, Los Blancos’ attack will simply be too much.

Score prediction: Betis 1-4 Real Madrid (Riquelme; Mbappé (2), Vini, Bellingham)

Real Madrid vs Inter Milan

Date: 8thCompetition: Champions LeaguePlayer to Watch: Lautaro Martínez

Then, Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign begins with one of their toughest outings — Inter. The two haven’t met often, having only played four times since the turn of the century, but when they have, Madrid has been dominant. Los Blancos have won all four of those meetings — in back-to-back group stages in 2020 and 2021 — and have held the Nerazzurri scoreless in the most recent three matchups.

This matchup also sees José Mourinho’s first match against his former treble-winning side in Europe, as well as Denzel Dumfries’ reunion with his old teammates.

The Italian champions, in their second season under the leadership of Cristian Chivu, will definitely make this a game. They’ll break their scoreless run against Madrid, but in the end, this Inter team just doesn’t have the hardened shell yet to take on the biggest sides, nor do they have the attack to make up for it. Real Madrid do.

Score prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Inter (Mbappé, Güler; Lautaro)

Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano

Date: 12thCompetition: La LigaPlayer to Watch: Isi Palazón

Ask any big La Liga side; games against Rayo Vallecano are never easy. Rayo seems to have Real’s number in recent years, having lost to Los Blancos just three times in their last eight matchups. However, the competitiveness of this match relies heavily on the fitness of Rayo’s star man, Isi Palazón.

Out through injury against Barcelona, Rayo struggled to a 5-2 defeat, and the same is expected against Madrid unless Palazón can return in time. Outside of Isi, former Atleti youth product Sergio Camello can also provide a serious threat, having scored a brace and nearly completed a hat-trick in the Barcelona match.

Assuming Isi’s return from injury, this could be Madrid’s most challenging game of the lot so far, and I think this will be one of the rare occasions where we see Los Blancos slip up in their title charge.

Score prediction: Real Madrid 1-1 Rayo (Bellingham; Camello)

Elche vs Real Madrid

Date: 15thCompetition: La LigaPlayer to Watch: Buba Sangaré

Elche aren’t in a great spot right now in La Liga. Surviving the 2025/26 campaign on goal difference, the side haven’t made many big moves and are looking like easy pickings at the minute, having lost 5-0 to Barcelona and currently sitting 19th in the standings.

Their only bright spot is potential future star Buba Sangaré, who has looked like a breakout star in this otherwise uninspiring side so far.

Following the intense feedback from José Mourinho after their draw against Rayo, Los Blancos will be even more motivated to make it up to him in this match, and I think they’ll end up doing it. I also see new signings Yan Diomande and Bernardo Silva finally making their way onto the scoresheet seven matches into the season.

Score prediction: Elche 0-6 Real Madrid (Mbappé (2), Diomande, Bernardo, Bellingham, Espi)

Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid

Date: 20thCompetition: La LigaPlayer to Watch: Julián Álvarez

Finally, to end off the month, we have the first Madrid derby of the season. Real Madrid’s record at the Metropolitano is historically bad, having won just once at the stadium in 11 attempts since its opening. However, their record away to Atlético going back to the days of the Calderón is even worse, having won just three of their last 21 away matches against Atleti.

Of course, who can forget Real Madrid’s only trip to the Metropolitano last season? A 5-2 Atleti win that saw the first cracks form in Xabi Alonso’s then-perfect system.

While it’s not known whether Julián Álvarez will be available for Atleti this time around, the Rojiblancos might not even need him, with the trio of Baena, Lookman and Lee doing wonders for Atleti in recent fixtures, especially in the 3-1 win against Sevilla.

I expect another slip-up for Madrid, although maybe not as grandiose as last year’s.

Score prediction: Atleti 2-2 Real Madrid (Lookman, Baena; Mbappé, Vini)

That’s all for my preview of Real Madrid for the month of September. Following the Atleti game, Real Madrid will have a three-week break from fixtures, which is going to feel like an eternity.

Until then, though, let’s enjoy the football.