Sixteen years after Jose Mourinho inspired Inter Milan to Champions League glory, the Portuguese manager begins a new European mission on Tuesday when his Real Madrid side welcome the Nerazzurri to the Santiago Bernabeu.
The heavyweight clash headlines the opening round of fixtures in the Champions League league phase, with both clubs looking to make a strong start after disappointing campaigns in Europe last season.
Real Madrid failed to live up to their usual standards in the 2025/26 Champions League, eventually being eliminated by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
Inter Milan endured an even more surprising European disappointment, suffering a shock playoff exit against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.
Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid has already produced an encouraging start domestically. His side won their opening three La Liga fixtures against Espanyol, Real Sociedad and Malaga, but their perfect record came to an end on Friday with a 1-0 defeat against Real Betis.
The defeat exposed some of the weaknesses that continue to surround Mourinho’s team, while Kylian Mbappe’s missed penalty added to Real Madrid’s frustration.
The French forward, who remains one of the club’s biggest attacking threats, was also criticised for what was described as a “selfish” performance against Betis.
Mourinho will now hope the arrival of Inter provides the perfect opportunity for his side to respond and demonstrate that they are ready to challenge for European football’s biggest prize.
The Portuguese coach knows Inter better than most, having famously guided the Italian giants to an historic Champions League triumph during the 2009/10 season.
That campaign formed part of an extraordinary treble-winning season for Inter, and Mourinho will now attempt to create another European legacy, this time at the club he previously managed between 2010 and 2013.
Inter, meanwhile, arrive in Madrid determined to put their recent European disappointments behind them.
Inter suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in 2025 before their European adventure last season ended with a giant-killing defeat to Bodo/Glimt.
Head coach Cristian Chivu was in charge during that disastrous campaign, with Inter suffering a 5-2 aggregate defeat to the Norwegian outsiders.
That domestic success has restored confidence around the Nerazzurri, but Tuesday’s trip to the Bernabeu represents an entirely different test.
Real Madrid will be determined to begin Mourinho’s latest European adventure with a statement victory, while Inter will hope their domestic double provides the foundation for a much stronger Champions League campaign.
With Mourinho facing the club he once led to European glory and Inter returning to the Bernabeu carrying both recent success and painful European memories, the stage is set for another heavyweight encounter between two of Europe’s most decorated clubs.
Team News
A new season does not mean a clean slate on the suspension front, and Real Madrid are without no fewer than three players due to bans carried over from last season; Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva.
On the other hand, Inter boast a clean bill of health barring new recruit Djed Spence, who is still building his fitness back up after an unspecified injury and may not be risked just yet.
Possible Lineups
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Dumfries, Konate, Huijsen, Cucurella; Bellingham, Valverde; Diomande, Diaz, Vinicius Jr; Mbappe
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Bastoni, Bisseck, Akanji; Diouf, Barella, Jones, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | dstv stream |
| Kick-off Time | 8:00pm (WAT) |
Match predictions
Softfootball predicts Real Madrid 1-1 Inter Milan
