MADRID — Real Madrid kicked off their 2026–27 UEFA Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu. Early goals from Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde proved decisive as the Spanish giants punished early errors by the visitors.
Brahim Díaz capitalized on a defensive error by Yann Bisseck to setup Mbappé, who slotted home low from close range. The strike marked Mbappé’s 71st Champions League goal, drawing him level with Real Madrid icon Raúl for fifth on the all-time scoring list.
Pressuring Inter’s buildup play, Federico Valverde intercepted a pass inside the box following indecision from goalkeeper Josep Martínez to double the host’s advantage.
Inter fought back hard in the second half, ending the night with 61% possession. Carlos Augusto rewarded their pressure with a goal 13 minutes from time to set up a tense finish.
Thibaut Courtois produced a masterclass performance between the posts, making 7 key saves to preserve the victory against repeated efforts from Lautaro Martínez, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, and Curtis Jones.
