UEFA Champions League Preview: Real Madrid vs Inter, Former Teacher and Student Face Off; Could a Chivu Win Force Madrid to Reconsider the Manager Position?

Mbappe recently said in an interview with France Football that he deserves the 2026 Ballon d'Or, immediately causing debate in French football. Dugarry called the comments “immature and pathetic,” Rothen said he carefully chose the timing of the interview, and commentator Romero said he had failed to understand reality; meanwhile, Dugarry also admitted that nobody currently dares to claim they are definitely stronger than Mbappe. The controversy is still ongoing, and at 03:00 on September 9, Real Madrid will face Inter at the Bernabeu in the first round of the UEFA Champions League league phase. This match is not only a chance for Mbappe to prove himself, but also Mourinho’s first major Champions League test in his second spell at Madrid. Real Madrid started La Liga with three straight wins but lost 0-1 away to Betis in round four after dominating the match and conceding a stoppage-time penalty; Inter have won three straight Serie A matches and came from behind to beat Napoli 3-2 last round, with Lautaro scoring twice. The teacher-student storyline adds more drama: Inter coach Chivu was a player under Mourinho during Inter’s 2010 treble-winning era, won the Champions League at the Bernabeu then, and now returns as the away-team manager. Betting odds list Madrid at 1.45 for a win, 4.20 for a draw and Inter at 4.95, favoring Madrid, but suspensions for B Silva, Camavinga and Guler plus doubts over Tchouameni and Pitarchi mean an easy victory is far from guaranteed.

The September 9, 03:00 match at the Bernabeu is part of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league phase first round. Real Madrid lost 0-1 away to Betis last round, taking 20 shots with 8 on target, while Mbappe missed a stoppage-time penalty, giving the team its first defeat of the season. Before that, Madrid had won their first three La Liga games, relying on Mbappe, Vinicius and Bellingham in attack; after the Betis loss, outside criticism focused on two issues: midfield buildup being disrupted by high pressing, and the forwards wasting chances along with unstable penalty execution. Mbappe has already scored a hat-trick against Real Sociedad this season, and his form is not poor, but his Madrid penalty record shows five misses from 24 attempts, around a 20.8% miss rate, a detail that will continue to be highlighted in Ballon d'Or discussions.

Midfield is Real Madrid’s biggest weakness. B Silva is suspended after a red card against Manchester City in last season’s Champions League, while Camavinga and Guler miss out due to accumulated yellow cards from the quarter-final against Bayern. All three are unavailable. Tchouameni has returned to group training after a muscle injury, but reports from AS say he will be handled cautiously and is unlikely to make the squad; Pitarchi’s ankle injury makes him doubtful, and Endrick has returned to training but is not ready for a starting role. Madrid also have long-term absences including Militao’s thigh injury, Mendy’s hip issue, Asensio’s tibia problem and Rodrygo’s knee injury, while Lunin has had flu symptoms, leaving the squad significantly reduced. Valverde is the only reliable midfield option, Bellingham may drop into the center, and Arnold or Huijsen could be used to support midfield and a back-three transition.

Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid has attracted far more attention than a normal Champions League opener. During his first spell, he won the Copa del Rey and La Liga, but repeatedly stopped in the Champions League semi-finals; after returning, three straight league wins created the impression that Madrid were back in title-winning rhythm, but the Betis defeat brought old criticism back. Mundo Deportivo mentioned Mourinho questioning refereeing after the loss, adding to the image from his Real Madrid, Chelsea, Tottenham, Roma and Fenerbahce periods of focusing on officiating after defeats. If another midfield collapse leads to goals conceded, any referee-related comments at the post-match press conference will be widely shared and further fuel discussion over whether his second Madrid spell is outdated.

Inter have a completely different atmosphere. Chivu replaced Inzaghi in June 2025 and won Serie A with 87 points in his first 2025-26 season, while also winning the Coppa Italia final 2-0 against Lazio for the club’s 10th Coppa Italia title and a domestic double. However, he lost the AIC Coach of the Year award to Fabregas, who guided Como into the Champions League, showing that peer recognition and trophy achievements do not always align. Mourinho led Inter to the 2010 treble, with Chivu as a key defender who made 169 appearances for the club and won the Champions League, Club World Cup, three Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia titles and two Super Cups. His return to the Bernabeu against his former coach naturally makes the “student’s revenge” storyline central.

Inter have started the new Serie A season with three straight wins. They trailed Napoli 0-2 last round before completing a 3-2 comeback, with Lautaro scoring twice and reaching 134 Serie A goals for Inter, moving third on the club’s all-time Serie A scoring list. Youngster Pio Esposito has started every Serie A match this season and has one goal and one assist. Barella, Calhanoglu and Zielinski are available in midfield, while Lautaro and Thuram form a two-man attacking partnership. The back three of Akanji, Bastoni and Bisseck provide buildup ability and defensive depth. The only major injury concern is at left wing-back: Dimarco had a knee injury issue recorded on September 6 and is doubtful, Spence is out, and Augusto can fill the role. Compared with Madrid’s multiple absences across the squad, Inter are closer to full strength.

The tactical matchup is straightforward. If Madrid use a 4-2-3-1, Valverde and Bellingham would move inside, with Mbappe central, Vinicius left and Brahim right. The advantage is individual attacking quality, but the weakness is a shortage of midfield numbers; against Inter’s Barella and Calhanoglu repeatedly shifting play horizontally, Valverde may be the only stable buildup engine. If Inter use a 3-5-2, Lautaro and Thuram lead the line, Barella and Calhanoglu control midfield, and Dumfries or another wing-back provides width, focusing on compact defense and fast counterattacks. If Dimarco misses out, the left-side attacking frequency decreases, but a deep five-man defense at the Bernabeu and set pieces targeting behind Huijsen or Konate still provide opportunities.

Historical meetings give Madrid a psychological advantage. In the 2020-21 Champions League group stage, Madrid won 3-2 at home against Inter and 2-0 away; in the 2021-22 group stage, Madrid won 1-0 in Milan and 2-0 at the Bernabeu, completing four straight victories over two seasons. Earlier meetings in 1998, 1985 and 1986 also included European competitions, with Madrid having a stronger home record against Inter overall. However, these historical numbers only show that Madrid have had the upper hand before and do not cancel out the current midfield absences. WhoScored predicts a 2-1 Madrid win, while betting score options list 2-1 around 7.25, 1-0 around 9.5 and 1-1 around 9.0, suggesting a narrow home win rather than a large-margin victory.

If referee Oliver takes charge as some previews have reported, his style is considered relatively lenient, which could benefit Inter’s physical approach. Inter are comfortable with close contact, while Madrid’s concern is being repeatedly attacked one-on-one on the wings by Mbappe and Vinicius. Madrid’s concern is the lack of Tchouameni’s defensive coverage in midfield, allowing Barella passes and Lautaro runs behind the defense. Mbappe must answer Ballon d'Or criticism while avoiding another missed penalty; Vinicius provides width, and Bellingham’s timing of forward runs after dropping deep will affect Madrid’s second-phase attacks. Lautaro’s runs against Madrid’s center-backs and Thuram’s ability to target the left side weakened by Mendy’s absence are direct attacking routes.

At squad level, Madrid have three confirmed suspensions and several injuries, with Tchouameni and Pitarchi only decided before kickoff. Inter’s main concerns are Dimarco’s doubt and Spence’s absence, while the rest of the core squad is available. If Mourinho uses three center-backs and two wing-backs, with Dumfries on the right, Cucurella on the left, Valverde, Bellingham and Brahim in midfield and Mbappe with Vinicius ahead, Madrid can best avoid their lack of a pure organizer. If they insist on a 4-2-3-1, the two holding midfielders could be overwhelmed by Inter’s three-man midfield and make the match more fragmented. If Chivu uses a defensive 5-3-2 away system with Lautaro set pieces and Thuram counters, Madrid need successful wing duels rather than slow midfield circulation.

The pre-match picture is clear: Ballon d'Or debate adds pressure on Mbappe, the first La Liga defeat adds pressure on Mourinho, and midfield injuries add tactical pressure. Inter’s three-match winning streak, comeback form and complete squad give Chivu extra motivation in the teacher-student reunion. A 1.45 home-win price shows the market favors Madrid, but the suspensions and Betis match, where Madrid had 20 shots and 8 on target but no goals, suggest a 1-0 or 2-1 game could be much tighter than the odds imply. Madrid have won their last four Champions League meetings with Inter, scoring eight and conceding two, which boosts confidence but also gives Inter motivation to change the script through midfield strength, defensive stability and one decisive counterattack.

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