Inter Champions League draw gives Jones and Mourinho reunions

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Football Italia

·27 August 2026

Inter Champions League draw gives Jones and Mourinho reunions

Inter will have another attempt at Curtis Jones’ old club Liverpool in the Champions League draw, but the biggest test might be the trip to Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid.

The draw for the Champions League 2026/27 League Phase was performed this evening in Monaco.

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MILAN, ITALY – MAY 03: Players and staff of FC Internazionale Milano unveil a flag to celebrate being confirmed as Serie A champions after the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 03, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

For the third year in a row, the opening round has each team facing four opponents at home and four away, with all the points going into a single 36-side table.

The full Champions League fixture list with match dates and kick-off times is expected on Saturday August 29, with the first games kicking off on Tuesday September 8.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 03: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, celebrates after being confirmed as Serie A champions following victory in the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 03, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Inter were top seeds, having reached the Champions League Final twice in the last four seasons, losing to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

Last term they struggled in the League Phase, losing controversially at home to Liverpool 1-0 to a late penalty in December 2025.

They have only beaten Liverpool twice in seven meetings, 1-0 at Anfield in 2022 and 3-0 in the European Cup semi-final of 1965.

Curtis Jones puts pen to paper on his Inter contract to June 2031 (@inter)

It’s bound to be emotional for Jones, who spent his entire career at hometown club Liverpool, but the Scouser will immediately come face to face with his former teammates.

There is going to be an emotional reunion with Mourinho, who won the Treble for Inter in 2010 before walking away to join Real Madrid.

Cristian Chivu, now the coach of the Italian Champions, was in his defence during that legendary campaign.

Incredibly, Mourinho is back on the Bernabeu bench this season and will host his beloved Nerazzurri for another huge fixture in this phase.

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho lifts the trophy in front of his team after winning the UEFA Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, 22 May 2010. EPA/EMILIO NARANJO NO MOBILE DEVICES

The Italians lost each of their last four games against Real Madrid in the Champions League, although the most recent was in December 2021.

Their only victory away to the Merengues was 2-0 in the 1967 European Cup quarter-final.

Borussia Dortmund are also a tough test away, along with a Feyenoord side who are very different on home turf compared to on their travels.

Depending on the calendar, Slovan Bratislava away could be tricky for the conditions in Winter.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 03: Lautaro Martinez celebrates after being confirmed as Serie A champions following victory in the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 03, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)