Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan: Match review | UEFA Champions League | OneFootball

Real Madrid bounced back from their weekend defeat to Real Betis with a narrow victory over Inter Milan in their first Champions League match of the 2026-27 season. Jose Mourinho’s side were far from convincing, but they have started the league phase with three points after claiming a 2-1 win at the Bernabeu.

It was a disappointing start from Real Madrid, as they struggled to get into the game. They gave up several chances to Inter, with Thibaut Courtois being forced into action on multiple occasions, but they were not punished. Rather, they would take the lead on 14 minutes as Brahim Diaz slipped in Kylian Mbappe to score his fifth goal of the season.

Another error allowed Real Madrid to double their lead less than 10 minutes later. Former Barcelona goalkeeper Josep Martinez dallied on the ball, and that allowed Federico Valverde to poke the ball into the back of the net, his first goal since becoming the official club captain in the summer.

The rest of the first half was dominated by Inter, who knocked the ball around well in the Real Madrid half. They had a chance for a goal back when Courtois saved well from a ferocious Hakan Calhanoglu free-kick, but it was the hosts that went closest again, and it would have been 3-0 but for an excellent double save from Martinez in stoppage time to deny Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.

Real Madrid let Inter back into the game in second half

The second half started the way that the first ended, but again, the best chance fell Real Madrid’s way. Brahim Diaz did incredibly well to set up Bellingham, but his effort was blocked on the line by Martinez, who more than made up for his error for Valverde’s goal. Denzel Dumfries had an excellent chance to score the rebound, but he put the ball over the bar.

The inability to score a third goal looked like it could cost Real Madrid, as Inter finally managed to get on the scoreboard in the 77th minute. Lautaro Martinez cut the ball back to Carlos Augusto, who got ahead of Denzel Dumfries to fire beyond Courtois, who could not achieve a deserved clean sheet.

Courtois was called into action a few more times as Inter pushed for an equaliser, but in the end, Real Madrid managed to hold on for the three points – much to the relief of the Bernabeu faithful.