| Real Madrid vs Inter | |
| MATCH | Champions League |
| DATE | 09 - 09 - 2026 |
| TIME | 12.30 AM IST |
| STADIUM | Santiago Bernabéu |
Real Madrid vs Inter Milan: Match Preview
Real Madrid will begin their Champions League campaign with a heavyweight encounter against Inter Milan, with both sides arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu determined to make an early statement in Europe.
For Jose Mourinho, the occasion carries plenty of personal significance as he faces his former club. The Portuguese coach will be looking to create another memorable Champions League chapter, having previously guided Inter Milan to their historic 2010 triumph.
Real Madrid's Champions League campaign last season ended in the knockout-round playoffs against Real Madrid's eventual European journey, but Los Blancos were unable to reclaim the trophy after falling short in the latter stages. They will now face a difficult league phase, with Arsenal, RB Leipzig, Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk among their opponents.
Despite their recent European frustrations, Real Madrid have traditionally started strongly in the Champions League. They have won 17 of their last 19 opening matchday fixtures, including each of their previous five.
Their domestic campaign also began positively, with three consecutive victories over Espanyol, Real Sociedad and Malaga. However, that winning run came to an end on Friday when they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Real Betis. Kylian Mbappe's missed penalty added to an underwhelming performance from the Spanish giants.
Inter Milan, meanwhile, head into the contest with confidence after making a perfect start to their Serie A title defence. Cristian Chivu's side have won all three of their league matches against Monza, Cagliari and Napoli.
Their latest victory was particularly dramatic, as Inter came from behind to beat Napoli 3-2, with Lautaro Martinez scoring the decisive goal in injury time.
Inter have enjoyed impressive domestic success but are still searching for another Champions League triumph. They finished as runners-up twice in the last four editions, while recent European campaigns have also included a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 final and a shock elimination against Bodo/Glimt last season.
History is another obstacle for Inter. They have failed to beat Real Madrid in the current millennium and have lost their last four meetings with Los Blancos. Even more concerning, Inter have failed to score in their last three encounters against the Spanish giants.
Team News
Real Madrid have several important absences ahead of the opening European fixture. Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva are all suspended due to bans carried over from last season.
Aurelien Tchouameni is also unlikely to start because of injury, which could see Jude Bellingham move into a deeper midfield position alongside Federico Valverde.
Eder Militao, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy and Raul Asencio are also unavailable. Thiago Pitarch, Endrick and Marc Cucurella have returned to training, although Endrick is only expected to be fit enough for a brief cameo of around five to 10 minutes.
Inter will be without Federico Dimarco, who is being rested after picking up a minor knee injury during the victory over Napoli. Djed Spence is another doubt as he continues to work his way back to full fitness.
Curtis Jones could be handed a starting role after making a strong impact from the bench against Napoli. Marcus Thuram is also pushing for a place in the XI following his equaliser, while Hakan Calhanoglu could return to the starting lineup in midfield.
With Real Madrid looking to respond after their domestic setback and Inter arriving on a three-match winning streak, this Champions League opener promises to be a fascinating battle between two European giants.
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