Mbappé and Valverde give Real Madrid 2–1 win over Inter in Champions League opener
Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde scored as Real Madrid beat Inter Milan 2–1 on 8 September 2026, with Thibaut Courtois helping protect the lead.
In short
- Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde scored as Real Madrid beat Inter Milan 2–1 on 8 September 2026, with Thibaut Courtois helping protect the lead.
Real Madrid defeated Inter Milan 2–1 in their Champions League opener on 8 September 2026, with first-half goals from Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde proving enough despite sustained pressure from the visitors.
Mbappé opened the scoring in the 14th minute after Brahim Díaz capitalised on an Inter defensive mistake and sent him through. Valverde doubled the lead nine minutes later when he dispossessed goalkeeper Josep Martínez close to the goal line.
Inter continued to create chances. Carlos Augusto reduced the deficit with about 15 minutes remaining, finishing from Lautaro Martínez’s cutback, but the Italian side could not find an equaliser.
Thibaut Courtois made several important saves, including a late stop that preserved Madrid’s advantage. At the other end, Martínez prevented Madrid from extending their lead as the game became increasingly open.
The victory marked José Mourinho’s first Champions League match of his second spell in charge of Madrid, against a club he previously coached. The Guardian’s match report described Inter controlling much of the play; Al Jazeera’s separate report also recorded the 2–1 result.
