Real Madrid began their Champions League League Stage campaign with a 2–1 victory over Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, as an early two-goal lead survived a late Inter response.
Kylian Mbappé put Jose Mourinho’s side ahead in the 14th minute, finishing a move created by Brahim Díaz. Fede Valverde added the second in the 23rd minute, leaving Real Madrid 2–0 ahead at half-time.
The result brought a more assured European evening after Real Madrid’s first defeat of the season at Real Betis in La Liga on Friday. It also gave the record 15-time European champions a winning start in a competition that remains central to the club’s history.
Inter, coached by Cristian Chivu, reduced the deficit in the 77th minute. Carlos Augusto scored from a Lautaro Martínez assist, shifting the mood inside the stadium and putting the home side under renewed pressure.
Courtois, making his 100th Champions League appearance, proved decisive. The Real Madrid goalkeeper made several smart saves and beat away a deflected Henrikh Mkhitaryan effort as Inter pursued an equaliser. Josep Martinez was in goal for Inter.
Mourinho described the match as 'a crazy game'. He said 'a game that finished 2–1 could have finished 7–6 without any problems'.
The fixture carried its own history for Mourinho, who faced the club he led to Champions League glory in 2010 at the same stadium. This time, his Real Madrid side emerged with the points after a contest in which the scoreline did little to contain the sense of danger at either end.
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