Real Madrid edged past Inter Milan 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu in their Champions League group stage opener, but the result masked a deeply flawed performance from Jose Mourinho's side. Los Blancos survived on individual errors from their Italian visitors rather than footballing superiority, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois proving decisive in a contest where the hosts appeared vulnerable throughout.
Mourinho faced a midfield recruitment nightmare heading into the fixture. Suspensions ruled out Eduardo Camavinga, Bernardo Silva and Arda Güler simultaneously—all serving bans from European competition—while Aurélien Tchouaméni remained below full fitness. The Portuguese coach's gamble to deploy Trent Alexander-Arnold alongside Fede Valverde in midfield backfired spectacularly. Real Madrid never established balance in the centre, gifting Inter Milan numerical superiority with five midfielders controlling the tempo. The Nerazzurri dominated possession and territorial advantage for extended periods, while Los Blancos struggled to connect defence with attack.
Courtois Rescues Mourinho's Tactical Misstep
Inter Milan's pressure mounted relentlessly, yet Real Madrid converted two careless mistakes into goals against the run of play. Oriel Bisseck's loose pass allowed Brahim Díaz to feed Kylian Mbappé, who finished clinically, before Inter goalkeeper Josep Martínez compounded matters by attempting to dribble past Valverde and inadvertently rolling the ball into his own net. Two goals arrived with virtually no attacking enterprise from the hosts, while Courtois denied the visitors repeatedly to preserve a lead that felt unearned. Real Madrid's forwards squandered several opportunities to bury the contest earlier, leaving the door open for Inter's late pressure. The Belgian custodian's string of commanding saves underscored just how exposed Mourinho's midfield setup had left his backline.
This victory papers over serious tactical questions as Real Madrid prepare for their next European test. Mourinho must address the midfield imbalance or risk encountering far more punishing opponents in the Champions League group stage.
