Real Madrid defeated Inter Milan 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday in the Champions League opener, with Kylian Mbappe and Fede Valverde scoring before Carlos Augusto pulled one back in the second half.
The victory gave Jose Mourinho a winning start against his former club, which he led to Champions League glory in 2010 at the same stadium.
Inter’s defensive mistakes put Madrid ahead
Inter began energetically and created early pressure, but Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois denied Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez. Madrid opened the scoring in the 14th minute after Curtis Jones’s poor pass put Yann Bisseck under pressure; Brahim Diaz won the ball and set up Mbappe to finish.
Valverde then doubled the lead after Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez hesitated in possession while the Uruguay international closed him down. Martinez recovered to save from Jude Bellingham before halftime, including a point-blank stop after Mbappe’s effort had been blocked. For additional context, see “Real Madrid edge Espanyol 2-1 in Mourinho’s first game back”.
Courtois protects Madrid as Inter push back
Bellingham missed another chance soon after halftime when he took a cross from Diaz under control instead of heading immediately, allowing Martinez to make another save. Courtois also pushed away a low drive from Alessandro Bastoni as Inter searched for a route back into the match.
Carlos Augusto reduced the deficit in the 77th minute, blasting past Courtois from a cross by Lautaro Martinez. Madrid could not settle the game despite further opportunities for Mbappe and Diaz, while Courtois stopped a deflected Henrikh Mkhitaryan effort late on to secure the three points. A related part of this story is covered in “Casemiro plays first match for Inter Miami despite ongoing MLS inquiry”.
A positive opening after a league defeat
Mourinho’s team responded to its first defeat of the season, against Real Betis in La Liga on Friday. The result also began Madrid’s league-phase campaign with a win after the club had gone two seasons without a major trophy and experienced early European exits.
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