Real Madrid win UCL opener vs Inter Milan

Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Inter Milan in their opening UEFA Champions League fixture on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the Santiago Bernabéu. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 14th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error from Inter. Federico Valverde doubled Real Madrid's advantage shortly after, also benefiting from a mistake by the visiting goalkeeper. Despite trailing by two goals, Inter Milan mounted a significant comeback attempt in the second half, with Carlos Augusto reducing the deficit in the 77th minute. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made several crucial saves throughout the match to preserve his team's lead, denying Inter multiple opportunities to equalize. The match marked the return of coach José Mourinho to face his former club, Inter Milan, whom he led to a historic treble in 2010. Reports indicate that Inter Milan created sustained pressure and enjoyed more possession, particularly in the first half, but were undone by critical errors in defense and goalkeeping. Mbappé's opening goal was his 71st in the Champions League, drawing him level with Real Madrid legend Raúl González on the all-time scoring list.