Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan: Mbappe 14, Valverde 23; Augusto 77
This could have been a very tough week for Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho but Inter Milan granted them some reprieve. Never do to yourself that which your enemy would celebrate, but the Italian champions did exactly that, with the result of a 2-1 loss at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Kylian Mbappe and Fede Valverde gave Madrid a two-goal advantage inside the opening 23 minutes after Inter’s errors laid the ball up for them on a plate.
And despite The Italian champions controlling much of the match, eventually pulling one goal back through Carlos Augusto, they could not find an equaliser, with Thibaut Courtois producing a series of outstanding saves to preserve the hosts’ lead.
The result gives Mourinho a winning start to his return to the competition with Madrid. He made two changes from the side that lost against Real Betis last weekend, bringing in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Brahim Diaz for the suspended Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Guler. Inter, meanwhile, arrived after a strong start in the Serie A and here they had more of the ball.
Courtois was quickly called into action, saving from Marcus Thuram before denying Lautaro Martinez. Inter continued to dictate the early play, but Madrid struck with their first serious attack.
Yann Bisseck’s attempted pass under pressure went straight to Diaz, who immediately released Mbappe. The France forward finished first time past Josep Martinez to put Madrid ahead against the run of play.
Inter’s dominance continued after the goal but another huge defensive mistake left them facing an even bigger deficit. Josep Martinez received the ball inside his own six-yard box but hesitated when Valverde closed him down. The Madrid captain dispossessed the goalkeeper, kicking the loose ball off his feet and into the net.
Two goals down, Inter continued to play. Curtis Jones struck the crossbar as the visitors repeatedly found routes through a Madrid midfield that struggled to contain them.
Madrid almost added a third before half-time after another Inter error. Mbappe broke through and forced a save from Josep Martinez, who then denied Bellingham before Diaz’s follow-up struck the outside of the post.
The statistics reflected the imbalance. Inter had 70% possession and led 12-3 in shots by the interval, yet found themselves two goals behind.
Cristian Chivu introduced John Stones at half-time as Inter continued to seek a way back into the match. Mbappe was denied early in the second half before Courtois kept out another effort from Jones.
The game grew more open. Bellingham missed a chance to put the result beyond Inter, while Bastoni tested Courtois at the other end. Josep Martinez also made amends for his earlier error by keeping Mbappe out with his legs.
Courtois produced another outstanding save to deny Inter as the visitors continued to create openings, while Madrid remained dangerous whenever Mbappe and Vinicius Junior found space.
Inter finally found their breakthrough with 13 minutes remaining. Lautaro reached the byline and pulled the ball back into the six-yard area, where Carlos Augusto arrived to finish and reduce the deficit. They pressed for an equaliser but Courtois and the Madrid defence held on.
