Serie A champions Inter head to the Santiago Bernabéu to take on Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in their opening 2026/27 UEFA Champions League outing. One of the standout fixtures of matchday one pits these two teams against each other for the first time since the 2021/22 group stage.
Mourinho, who inspired Inter to a historic treble in 2010, suffered his first competitive defeat in his second stint at the Bernabéu on Friday as Real Betis beat Los Blancos 1-0 at Estadio La Cartuja. Despite generating a stunning 3.46 xG and having a late equalizer disallowed for offside, Madrid couldn’t break down Betis’ defense, with Kylian Mbappe squandering a stoppage-time penalty.
As a result, the record-time European champions gave away a perfect La Liga start, having won their opening three matches, including a 4-0 rout of Malaga at this venue last time out. After missing out on Champions League glory during his first stint in Madrid, Mourinho now gets another chance to conquer Europe, and this journey starts against his beloved Inter.
The visitors should take this trip in high spirits after overturning a 2-0 deficit in Saturday’s remarkable 3-2 home win over Napoli. Captain Lautaro Martinez scored a match-winning brace to open his account for the 2026/27 season, setting his side up perfectly for this mouth-watering clash in Spain’s capital. However, after last year’s disappointing Champions League exit, Cristian Chivu’s men have a point to prove here.
Match Preview
Real Madrid
Madrid’s last Champions League triumph came in 2024. They’ve since suffered back-to-back quarter-final exits, something they’ll be desperate to improve upon this term, with their home city hosting the final next June. Los Blancos failed to shine during last season’s league phase, losing three of their eight matches at this stage of the tournament (W5).
Furthermore, they’re at risk of losing three consecutive Champions League games for the first time since April 2025 after being beaten by Bayern Munich in both quarter-final legs last season. Eager to avoid that unwanted feat, the 36-time La Liga champions can draw confidence from their superb scoring record under Mourinho, as they’ve found the net in 35 of their 36 Champions League games with the ‘Special One’ in the dugout.
Inter’s upcoming visit bodes well for Madrid’s bid to bounce back from Friday’s heartbreak at Cartuja. Indeed, Los Merengues have won their last four encounters against the Nerazzurri and eight of the nine meetings at the Bernabéu (L1). As if that’s not encouraging enough, they’ve emerged victorious from 19 of their last 21 European matches against Italian opposition.
Inter
In addition to their dreadful record in Madrid, Inter have failed to win any of their last four UEFA-sanctioned fixtures against La Liga sides (D2, L2), highlighting the size of the task awaiting Chivu’s men on Tuesday. Chivu was part of the Nerazzurri squad that lifted the Champions League title in 2010, which remains the last time an Italian club won the competition.
Yet, Chivu’s hopes of replicating that success from the touchline fell apart in last season’s playoff round against Bodo/Glimt. It was the only blemish on his memorable first season at Giuseppe Meazza, as he helped Inter win the domestic double for the first time in 16 years. Inter’s Scudetto defense has been off to a dream start, with the Nerazzurri winning all three Serie A games this term.
On a less promising note, Inter have lost five of their last six Champions League outings (W1), as many defeats as in their previous 39 fixtures in the competition. Still, three wins from their last five continental road trips (L2) offer the reigning Scudetto holders a glimmer of hope ahead of their daunting visit to Madrid.
Even finding the net shouldn’t be an issue for Inter, who have netted at least two goals in 11 of their last 13 games in all competitions.
Team News
Madrid will be without the suspended trio Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler, and Bernardo Silva. To make matters worse ahead of Mourinho’s second Champions League debut in charge of Los Blancos, Aurelien Tchouameni (muscle), Eder Militao (hamstring), Rodrygo (knee), Ferland Mendy (hamstring), and Raul Asencio (tibia) are all struggling with injuries.
As for Inter, summer signing Djed Spence remains the only notable absentee, with the English wingback still building his fitness back up after an unspecified injury. After earning high acclaim from the Italian media for his superb off-the-bench showing against Napoli, Curtis Jones could make his first start for the Nerazzurri at the expense of Petar Sucic, who flopped on Saturday.
Real Madrid vs Inter Potential Starting Lineups
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Dumfries, Konate, Huijsen, Cucurella; Bellingham, Valverde; Diomande, Diaz, Vinicius Jr; Mbappe.
Inter (3-5-2): J. Martinez; Bastoni, Bisseck, Akanji; Diouf, Barella, Jones, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; L. Martinez, Thuram.
Real Madrid vs Inter Prediction
Winless in their last 13 away clashes against Spanish clubs, Inter cannot realistically hope to break that streak against one of the best teams in the world. However, Chivu’s men have what it takes to deny Mourinho’s side a winning start to the competition, as we expect these two European heavyweights to share the spoils on Tuesday.
Prediction: Draw
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The post UEFA Champions League Preview: Real Madrid vs Inter – Team News, Lineups & Prediction appeared first on The Cult of Calcio.
