Champions League First Round Preview: Real Madrid vs Inter Milan — Injuries Trouble Hosts as Mourinho Looks to Secure Victory_Battle_Napoli_Real Madrid

In the first round of the 2026-27 Champions League, Real Madrid will face Serie A champions Inter Milan at the Bernabeu at 03:00 on September 9. The match carries great significance. With the implementation of the new format, every team needs to fight for every point to avoid damaging their final ranking through lapses in concentration. Real Madrid suffered a surprise 0-1 away defeat to Betis in their previous league match, so they will be determined to secure three points in this game. Inter Milan, meanwhile, have started the Serie A season strongly with three consecutive victories and travel to Madrid with confidence. Mourinho, who previously led Inter to multiple major trophies, will naturally have many emotions when facing his former club. However, the current Real Madrid urgently need a victory to boost morale.

This match is Mourinho's first official Champions League game since returning for his second spell as Real Madrid manager, but his biggest challenge is the absence of midfield players through injuries and suspensions. Currently, Bernardo, Camavinga, and Guler are unavailable due to suspension, while Tchouameni and Tiago-Pitarchi are also sidelined through injury. The only remaining established midfield option is Valverde. To fill the gap, Mourinho may consider using young Castilla players Sestero and Sergio Martinez, or dropping Bellingham deeper to handle midfield duties, creating many uncertainties in formation and personnel choices.

Beyond the midfield problems, the team also faces other injury concerns. Rodrygo has suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury, while Militao, Mendy, and Asensio may also miss the match, significantly weakening the team's bench depth. Although Real Madrid showed strong ability at the beginning of the La Liga season, their defeat to Betis in the previous round was their first loss of the campaign. They created many shots but failed to convert them into goals, and Mbappe even missed a stoppage-time penalty, reflecting instability in their attacking efficiency. However, Real Madrid remain formidable at the Bernabeu, maintaining a very high home win rate across seasons. The attacking trio of Mbappe, Bellingham, and Vinicius also possess elite individual ability, meaning they can still change the course of a match through individual brilliance despite midfield shortages.

In terms of historical meetings, Real Madrid have held the upper hand against Inter Milan. In their last seven encounters, Real Madrid have won six times and have maintained seven consecutive home victories over Inter, giving them a clear psychological advantage. However, the situation is different now, as squad losses will significantly reduce Real Madrid's ability to control possession. How to effectively transition between attack and defense with insufficient midfield strength will be Mourinho's key challenge.

Inter Milan have been in excellent form in Serie A this season, winning all three of their opening matches, scoring eight goals and conceding three. In their previous match against Napoli, they completed a 3-2 comeback victory after falling two goals behind. Team morale is extremely high, with Lautaro scoring twice and providing the winning goal. Across their last ten matches in all competitions, Inter have remained consistent and unbeaten, while their ability to withstand pressure and complete comebacks against strong opponents has been fully demonstrated.

At present, Inter's overall structure remains intact, with only a few defenders facing injury concerns and almost all key players available. Against a Real Madrid side struggling in midfield, Inter are likely to adopt a more pragmatic approach by strengthening midfield interceptions, reducing passing space in Real Madrid's attacking areas, and partially conceding possession to create counterattacking opportunities. In addition, Lautaro's attacking threat and Dimarco's overlapping runs from the flank will be key factors in creating danger.

For the Nerazzurri, their historical record against Real Madrid is concerning, especially as they have lost their last four official meetings, with the Bernabeu becoming a difficult venue. However, Real Madrid's current squad problems provide Inter with an opportunity to break the trend and earn points away from home.

With midfield shortages, Real Madrid's performances in build-up play, interceptions, and defensive coverage have all declined. Bellingham's deeper positioning will sacrifice some of his attacking impact, and Mourinho's lineup decisions will undoubtedly directly influence the direction of the match. If the midfield cannot withstand Inter's pressure, Real Madrid could find themselves in a passive situation. Mbappe is eager to open his Champions League scoring account for the new season, and his missed penalty in the previous match means he needs a goal to rebuild confidence. Meanwhile, the in-form Lautaro is Inter's sharpest weapon on the counterattack, and the performances of these two elite forwards will likely influence the outcome.

From a tactical perspective, Inter are not obsessed with possession and are skilled at quick transitions and set pieces, both of which can become weapons for scoring goals. If they can withstand Real Madrid's early home pressure and find scoring chances through counterattacks, Inter may have an opportunity to get on the scoresheet. The match will also test the tactical planning and second-half adjustments of both managers. I still lean toward expecting the home side to avoid defeat.