UCL | Real Madrid 2-1 Inter: Costly errors ruin Champions League opener

Inter paid the price for embarrassing early errors in their 2-1 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid , but dominated possession for long periods and scored through Carlos Augusto .

Treble winners Jose Mourinho and Cristian Chivu reunited on the touchline of the Bernabeu , with Denzel Dumfries facing his former teammates. The Nerazzurri missed Federico Dimarco and Djed Spence , but Curtis Jones got his first start for the club, with both Manuel Akanji and John Stones dropped.

The Merengues were fresh off a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis , with Bernardo Silva , Arda Guler and Eduardo Camavinga suspended, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy , Raul Asencio and Rodrygo injured, plus Aurelien Tchouameni, Endrick and Thiago Pitarch not fully fit either. Mourinho therefore used Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield for an unusual 4-2-3-1 formation.

MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 08: Denzel Dumfries of Real Madrid interacts with a player of Internazionale before the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 08, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

It was a strong start from the visitors, Marcus Thuram forcing a save from eight yards on the Andy Diouf pull-back from eight yards, then Dean Huijsen twice made crucial blocks on Diouf and Hakan Calhanoglu .

MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 08: Andy Diouf of Internazionale is challenged by Marc Cucurella of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 08, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Lautaro Martinez sting Thibaut Courtois ' gloves with a snapshot, but it was Real Madrid who took the lead entirely against the run of play.

The misplaced Jones pass caused problems for Yann Bisseck , allowing Brahim Diaz to thread through and send Kylian Mbappé clear on goal to squirm the finish under Josep Martinez.

Calhanoglu's screamer of a free kick tested Courtois, while Benjamin Pavard timed the tackle perfectly to stop Vinicius Junior scoring when pouncing on another error.

MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 08: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid is challenged by Yann Aurel Bisseck and Benjamin Pavard of Internazionale during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 08, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Inter shot themselves in the foot even more spectacularly for the second goal, as Josep Martinez tried a cheeky turn to dribble away from Federico Valverde in his six-yard box, but made a complete hash of it, allowing the prod into an empty net.

Having dominated possession and going 2-0 down, their confidence was shaken with only a desperate Bisseck tackle preventing the third goal from Mbappé.

Jones turned and clipped the top of the crossbar from 14 yards, but Josep Martinez denied a third goal with an extraordinary double save. He stuck out a foot to deny Mbappé, then somehow managed to get his glove to the Jude Bellingham tap-in, as Brahim Diaz turned the third attempt onto the upright.

Inter had 67 per cent possession in that first half and completed 333 passes to 127, yet were trailing 2-0 after gifting goals with errors.

John Stones replaced Pavard for the second half, but Josep Martinez rushed off his line to make the save when Mbappé sprinted away on the counter from an Inter corner.

Courtois was also alert to deny Jones on another Diouf assist, while Marcus Thuram volleyed a Calhanoglu low cross over from nine yards, and Lautaro Martinez couldn't control a Calhanoglu through ball when springing the offside trap.

Bellingham really should've made it 3-0 on 58 minutes when Brahim Diaz floated in a ball from the by-line, but he insisted on taking a touch first rather than nodding over from close range, allowing Josep Martinez to scramble back and make the huge save.

Courtois was also decisive, getting down to parry the ferocious Alessandro Bastoni daisy-cutter, and Martinez reacted well to deny Mbappé from 12 yards on the Brahim Diaz roll across.

Brahim Diaz's angled drive flashed wide after a well-worked team move, with Bisseck bravely getting his face in the way of a Valverde scorcher.

Inter finally got their goal when Lautaro Martinez pulled back from the right by-line for Carlos Augusto to sweep in from six yards.

Yan Diomande came off the bench and the €125m signing tested Josep Martinez at the near post, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan also stung Courtois' gloves with a deflected effort.

Mbappé 14 (RM), Valverde 23 (RM), Carlos Augusto 77 (I)