Real Madrid began their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Inter Milan, securing three points at the Santiago Bernabeu. Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde were on target for the Spanish side, while Carlos Augusto pulled one back for Inter in the second half.
The result gave Madrid a winning start, but the scoreline does not fully reflect the balance of the contest. Inter made the brighter opening and created several opportunities before the hosts found their rhythm.
Thibaut Courtois was called into action as early as the third minute, producing an excellent save to deny Marcus Thuram’s half-volley. Hakan Calhanoglu then tested the Madrid goalkeeper with a free-kick as Inter continued to press.
Madrid, however, punished the first significant defensive mistake of the night. In the 14th minute, a poor pass from Curtis Jones put Yann Bisseck under pressure. Brahim Diaz won possession and quickly found Mbappe, who finished superbly from inside the penalty area to give the hosts the lead.
The goal was another significant milestone for the France captain. Mbappe’s 71st Champions League and European Cup goal came in his 99th appearance in the competition, moving him level with Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez on the all-time scoring list.
Madrid doubled their advantage nine minutes later, again benefiting from an Inter error. Benjamin Pavard’s back-pass left goalkeeper Josep Martinez with the ball at his feet and too much time was spent in possession. Valverde pressed aggressively, won the ball and saw it roll into the unguarded net to make it 2–0.
Remarkably, Madrid had managed only one shot on target when they scored their two goals.
Inter refused to collapse. Curtis Jones struck the crossbar, while Madrid survived another dangerous spell before half-time. Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Brahim Diaz also combined to create an opportunity for a third goal, but Inter managed to keep the deficit at two.
The second half was considerably more open. Inter pushed forward repeatedly, with Courtois denying Jones and Thuram failing to convert a promising opportunity from Carlos Augusto’s cross. Lautaro Martinez also threatened as the Italian side searched for a way back into the match.
Josep Martinez, meanwhile, recovered from his first-half mistake with a series of impressive saves. He kept out a header from Bellingham in the 58th minute and stopped Mbappe’s effort with his feet eight minutes later. Brahim Diaz then sent a curling effort wide as Madrid continued to threaten on the counter.
Inter’s persistence finally paid off in the 77th minute. Lautaro Martinez delivered an excellent cross into the area, and Carlos Augusto met it with a powerful finish that beat Courtois and reduced the deficit to 2–1.
The final stages were tense. Inter committed players forward in search of an equaliser, forcing Madrid’s defence to withstand sustained pressure. Courtois once again proved decisive, making several important interventions before producing another crucial save to deny Henrikh Mkhitaryan late in the match.
That intervention preserved Madrid’s lead and secured all three points.
For Mbappe, the night carried particular significance. His 71st goal in the Champions League and European Cup lifted him alongside Raul in joint fifth place among the competition’s leading scorers. Only four players have scored more: Karim Benzema with 90, Robert Lewandowski with 109, Lionel Messi with 129 and Cristiano Ronaldo with 140.
Raul reached his 71 goals in 142 appearances for Madrid. Mbappe has now matched that total in just 99 matches, underlining the remarkable scoring rate that has quickly made him one of the competition’s most prolific forwards.
For Madrid, the victory was ultimately built on efficiency. Inter created early pressure and remained dangerous throughout the evening, but Madrid converted key opportunities, survived periods of sustained attacking pressure and relied on Courtois when the result was in danger. The 2–1 victory therefore provides both a winning start and a reminder of the fine margins that often decide Champions League matches.
