Real Madrid vs Inter: Champions League Clash Preview and Team Updates
Match Overview
The record 15-time Champions League winners, Real Madrid, start their European campaign under Jose Mourinho against Serie A champions Inter Milan. The game takes place at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid on Tuesday, September 8, kicking off at 9pm (19:00 GMT). Fans can follow the build-up live from 16:00 GMT with commentary provided by Al Jazeera Sport.
Mourinho’s Return and Background
Jose Mourinho, who left Inter Milan in 2010 after a historic treble-winning season, has returned to manage Real Madrid again. His previous stint at Inter saw them win Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League—beating Bayern Munich 2-0 in the final held at Madrid’s own Bernabeu. That victory marked Inter’s first Champions League trophy since 1965.
Sixteen years later, Mourinho faces his former team as he aims to bring European glory to Madrid once more. Despite his success, the Champions League trophy slipped through his hands during his first spell with Real Madrid.
Mourinho Addresses Pressure
At the pre-match press conference, Mourinho dismissed any notion of pressure to win the Champions League this time around. He said, “No, it is two different spells. When I left in 2013, we won what we won and lost what we lost and we gave it our all. What I need to do now has nothing to do with the past.”
He pointed out the growth of Real Madrid in Europe since 2010, highlighting six Champions League wins in just over a decade. Mourinho stressed the need for stability and structure in the team, adding, “Real Madrid need to reach that stability that is so important to achieve something great. But Real Madrid are Real Madrid, you need to win here no matter what.”
Team Dynamics and Player Insights
Star forward Kylian Mbappe was asked about his relationship with teammate Vinicius Jr and the dressing room atmosphere. He downplayed any changes compared to last year, saying, “It’s the same as last year. It’s true we have a different coach, but it’s the same.”
Mbappe acknowledged room for improvement in goal scoring. “We all need to improve [in front of goal], and also with the ball,” he admitted, while humorously noting he scores more than some PSG players but still needs to get better.
Recent Matches Recap
Real Madrid’s Last Match
Madrid suffered their first defeat under Mourinho’s current tenure with a 1-0 loss to Real Betis on Friday. Mbappe missed a late penalty, denied by Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles. Earlier, Vinicius Junior hit the post, and Mbappe’s efforts were blocked multiple times, showing Real’s struggles to break down Betis’ defense. The decisive moment came when Troy Parrott scored from a rebound deep into stoppage time after Thibaut Courtois made a fine save.
Inter Milan’s Latest Game
Inter Milan staged a dramatic comeback to win 3-2 against Napoli on Saturday. Trailing 2-0 early in the second half, goals from Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram turned the tide. Martinez scored twice late, including a winning goal in the 91st minute following a scramble in the box, sealing a thrilling victory for the Serie A champions.
Head-to-Head and Predictions
The teams have met 19 times: Real Madrid holds the edge with 10 wins, Inter has won 7, and 2 matches ended in draws. Inter hasn’t beaten Madrid since 1998, when Roberto Baggio scored twice in a 3-1 victory.
- December 07, 2021: Real Madrid 2-0 Inter Milan (Champions League)
- September 15, 2021: Inter Milan 0-1 Real Madrid (Champions League)
- November 25, 2020: Inter Milan 0-2 Real Madrid (Champions League)
- November 03, 2020: Real Madrid 3-2 Inter Milan (Champions League)
- November 25, 1998: Inter Milan 3-1 Real Madrid (Champions League)
The Opta supercomputer favors Real Madrid with a 56% chance of winning. Inter’s odds stand at 22.3%.
Team News
Real Madrid
- Suspended: Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler, Bernardo Silva
- Injured: Eder Militao, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy, Raul Asencio
- Fitness Doubts: Aurelien Tchouameni, Thiago Pitarch, Endrick, Marc Cucurella (all back in training)
Predicted Starting XI: Courtois (GK); Dumfries, Konate, Huijsen, Cucurella; Bellingham, Valverde; Diomande, Diaz, Vinicius Jr; Mbappe
Inter Milan
- Unavailable: Federico Dimarco (knee injury)
- Unlikely to feature: Djed Spence (fitness recovery)
Predicted Starting XI: Josep Martinez (GK); Bastoni, Bisseck, Akanji; Diouf, Barella, Jones, Calhanoglu, Augusto; Lautaro Martinez, Thuram
