Champions League First-Round Analysis: Real Madrid vs Inter Milan, Injury Concerns Trouble Hosts as Mourinho Prepares Winning Strategy

The first round of the 2026-27 Champions League will begin at 03:00 Beijing time on September 9, with Real Madrid facing Serie A defending champions Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The new format means the 36 teams no longer compete in a traditional group stage, and the importance of every match is obvious as each game directly affects the final standings. Therefore, every round cannot be overlooked. In the previous La Liga match, Real Madrid suffered a surprise defeat, losing 0-1 away to Real Betis, and they urgently need to return to winning ways. In contrast, Inter have made an excellent start to the new Serie A season, recording three consecutive victories, and they will travel to challenge Real Madrid with strong confidence. It is worth noting that Mourinho once led Inter to major honors, so facing his former club again will naturally bring mixed emotions. However, Real Madrid must win to restore morale.

This match is Mourinho's first Champions League competitive fixture since taking charge of Real Madrid again, and his biggest challenge is the frequent injuries and suspensions affecting midfield players. Currently, Bernardo, Camavinga and Guler are unavailable due to European competition suspensions, while Tchouameni and Tiago Pitarch are also sidelined with injuries, leaving Valverde as the only recognized senior midfielder available. To deal with this situation, Mourinho may use academy youngsters Sestero and Sergio Martinez, or move Bellingham deeper into midfield duties, meaning the flexibility of his in-game formations will face significant uncertainty.

Besides the midfield issues, Rodrygo has been out for a long period due to a serious cruciate ligament injury, while Militao, Mendy and Asensio could also miss the match, seriously affecting the team's rotation depth. Although Real Madrid had a strong start to the La Liga season, their previous defeat gave them their first loss, and despite creating several attacking chances throughout the match, they failed to convert them into goals. Mbappe also missed a penalty in stoppage time, exposing instability in the team's finishing ability. However, the Bernabeu remains a strong fortress, with a high winning rate across competitions, and even with midfield shortages, the individual ability of attackers such as Mbappe, Bellingham and Vinicius could still change the outcome.

From the perspective of historical meetings, Real Madrid hold an advantage over Inter Milan, winning six and drawing one of their last seven encounters, while also maintaining a seven-match winning streak against Inter at the Bernabeu. This gives them a psychological advantage. However, the current situation is different from the past, and the severe injury list will greatly weaken Real Madrid's ability to control and progress the ball. How to stabilize transitions between attack and defense with limited midfield resources will be a major challenge for Mourinho.

Inter's performance in the new Serie A season has been nearly perfect, winning all of their first three matches with powerful attacking output, scoring eight goals and conceding three. Their comeback victory against Napoli in adversity in the previous round further boosted team morale. The Nerazzurri have remained unbeaten in their last 10 matches across all competitions, showing their resilience and ability to overturn situations against strong opponents.

At present, Inter's overall structure remains intact, with only a few defenders injured. Facing a Real Madrid side with an incomplete midfield lineup, Inter are expected to adopt a more practical approach, strengthening midfield interceptions and reducing passing space in Real Madrid's attacking areas. They will look to exploit counterattacking opportunities by making full use of Lautaro's ability to break through and Dimarco's crossing threat from the flank.

However, Inter still face a historical disadvantage against Real Madrid, having lost their last four official meetings, and the Bernabeu can be regarded as a place of frustration for them. Nevertheless, Real Madrid's current squad difficulties provide Inter with an opportunity to break the pattern and fight for points away from home.

With several key midfielders unavailable, Real Madrid's ball progression, interceptions and defensive coverage will decline. In addition, Bellingham's deeper positioning will inevitably reduce his attacking contribution, and Mourinho's lineup choices will directly influence the direction of the match. If Real Madrid's midfield is overwhelmed by Inter, the situation could shift in an unfavorable direction. Mbappe is eager to open his Champions League scoring account, while Lautaro is in excellent form and remains a key weapon in Inter's counterattacks. The performances of these two elite forwards could determine the course of the match.

Tactically, Inter display a flexible style of play. They are not limited to possession-based football and instead seek quick transitions and set-piece opportunities. If they can withstand Real Madrid's early pressure and find chances for surprise attacks, they could challenge their opponents. The match will test both coaches' tactical decisions and second-half adjustments, but the hosts are still expected to avoid defeat.