Champions League First Round Preview: Real Madrid vs Inter Milan — Injuries Pose a Challenge for Hosts as Mourinho Seeks the Decisive Plan

At 03:00 on September 9, the 2026-27 Champions League league phase begins with a heavyweight clash as Real Madrid host Serie A champions Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu. Under the new format, the 36-team league phase no longer has traditional groups, and every point directly affects the final standings, making every match crucial. Real Madrid suffered an unexpected upset in their last league match, losing 0-1 away to Betis. Therefore, they are determined to take all three points in this match. Inter have started Serie A with three consecutive wins, and they appear confident ahead of this away game against Real Madrid because Mourinho previously led Inter to important trophies. Facing his former club again brings some emotions, but the current Real Madrid must win to boost morale.

This match is Mourinho's first official Champions League game in his second spell at Real Madrid, and his biggest challenge is the absence and suspension issues affecting his midfield. Currently, Bernardo, Camavinga, and Guler are suspended in European competition, while Tchouameni and Thiago Pitarch are injured and are highly unlikely to play. Valverde has become the only remaining natural midfield option. To fill the gaps, Mourinho is even considering promoting Castilla academy youngsters Sestero and Sergio Martinez, or moving Bellingham deeper to take on major midfield responsibilities. The lineup and formation choices contain many uncertainties.

Beyond the midfield, Rodrygo is sidelined for a long period with a serious cruciate ligament injury, while Militao, Mendy, and Asensio may also be unavailable, severely reducing the team's rotation depth. In La Liga, Real Madrid opened the season with three straight wins, but their last away match ended in a 0-1 defeat to Betis, their first loss of the season. They created several shooting opportunities but failed to convert them, and Mbappe missed a stoppage-time penalty, exposing instability in their finishing. However, Real Madrid remain extremely strong at home, maintaining a very high win rate in official home matches across seasons. The attacking trio of Mbappe, Bellingham, and Vinicius still has elite individual ability, and even with midfield shortages, their attacking stars can still change the game.

In terms of historical meetings, Real Madrid have held the advantage over Inter, winning 6 and drawing 1 of their last 7 encounters. At the Bernabeu against Inter, they have achieved seven consecutive victories, giving them a significant psychological advantage. However, circumstances have changed, and the incomplete squad will greatly weaken Real Madrid's ability to control possession and build attacks. How to stabilize transitions between attack and defense with limited midfield options is Mourinho's key task in this match.

Inter have made a perfect start to the new Serie A season, winning all three opening rounds, scoring 8 goals and conceding 3. In their last match at home against Napoli, they came back from two goals down to win 3-2, though the comeback also consumed some energy. Lautaro scored twice and added a stoppage-time winner, pushing team morale to a high level. The Nerazzurri have remained unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions with 6 wins and 4 draws, and their resilience and comeback ability against strong opponents have been fully demonstrated.

Inter's overall structure remains intact, with only a few defenders facing injury concerns, and almost all key players are available. Against a Real Madrid side with midfield shortages, Inter are likely to adopt a pragmatic approach, strengthening midfield interceptions and pressing, reducing the passing space for Real Madrid's forwards, giving up some possession, and focusing on counterattacking opportunities after winning the ball. They will rely on Lautaro's attacking impact and Dimarco's runs from the wing to create threats.

For the Nerazzurri, one major concern is their historical record against Real Madrid. They have lost their last four competitive meetings against Real Madrid, and the Bernabeu has been a painful venue for Inter. However, with Real Madrid currently short of players, this is an excellent opportunity for Inter to break the pattern and earn points away from home.

With several key midfielders missing, Real Madrid's ball progression, interceptions, and defensive coverage will decline. In addition, Bellingham dropping deeper would sacrifice attacking power, and Mourinho's selection decisions will directly determine the direction of the match. If Inter disrupt Real Madrid's midfield, the hosts could easily fall into a passive position. Mbappe hopes to open his scoring account in the Champions League this season and needs a goal to restore confidence after missing a penalty in the previous match. Lautaro is in explosive form and is Inter's sharpest weapon on counterattacks. The performances of the two elite forwards could influence the outcome.

From a tactical perspective, Inter are not obsessed with possession. Creating chances through transitions and set pieces are their scoring weapons. If they can withstand Real Madrid's early home pressure and use counterattacks to find scoring opportunities, they have a chance to score. The match will depend on the strategies of the two managers and their second-half adjustments, with the home side still favored to avoid defeat.