Temi Kings
Real Madrid kicked off their 2026/27 UEFA Champions League campaign with purpose on Tuesday night, edging Serie A champions Inter Milan 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu. The blockbuster Matchday 1 fixture carried heavy narrative weight as José Mourinho faced the club he famously guided to treble glory in 2010, looking to rebuild momentum after Madrid suffered their first La Liga defeat of the season against Real Betis last week.
Mourinho's men wasted no time imposing their authority, striking early through their world-class front line. In the 14th minute, Kylian Mbappé found space in the center of the box to finish with composure and put Los Blancos ahead. Real Madrid doubled their advantage just nine minutes later when captain Federico Valverde unleashed a strike in the 23rd minute after sustained pressure, sending the home crowd into voice. Inter threatened through set-pieces, with Hakan Çalhanoğlu picking up a first-half booking as the visitors struggled to stem Madrid's midfield flow.
The Italian champions adjusted after the interval, introducing John Stones, Piotr Zieliński, and Ange-Yoan Bonny to wrest back control of tempo. Inter found a lifeline in the 77th minute when defender Carlos Augusto finished smartly to make it 2-1 and setup a grandstand finish. Tensions flared late on with bookings for Lautaro Martínez, Dean Huijsen, and Yann Aurel Bisseck, but Thibaut Courtois and Madrid's defense weathered the storm through stoppage time to lock down an essential opening victory.