Real Madrid hosts Inter Milan in Champions League

Real Madrid begins its Champions League campaign Tuesday night, September 8, 2026, hosting Inter Milan at the Estadio Bernabeu in a match that marks a reunion for manager Jose Mourinho with his former club. The fixture is the first in the group stage for both teams. Mourinho, who led Inter to a historic treble including the Champions League title in 2010, returns to face the Italian champions. His first tenure at Real Madrid, from 2010 to 2013, saw him reach the Champions League semifinals three times but ultimately fail to secure the trophy for the Spanish club. He stated he is not feeling added pressure to win the competition this time, emphasizing that his current role is distinct from his past. "What I need to do now has nothing to do with the past," Mourinho said. "Real Madrid need to achieve that stability that is so important to achieve something great." The match comes after Real Madrid suffered their first defeat of the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis on September 5, 2026. Despite the setback, the team had secured three league victories prior to that. Mourinho indicated he would make changes to the starting lineup for the Champions League opener.