Mbappe and Valverde pounce to sink Inter
Real Madrid began its 2026-27 Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over Inter at Estadio Bernabeu.
Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde were on target as Inter was punished for sloppy mistakes at the back, although Carlos Augusto's riposte set up a nervy finish in the Spanish capital.
Inter started on the front foot as Marcus Thuram forced an early save from Thibaut Courtois before Hakan Calhanoglu sent a warning shot from distance narrowly over the bar.
Lautaro Martinez also tested Courtois with a long shot, but it was Madrid which took the lead against the run of play in the 14th minute as Yann Bisseck was caught in possession, allowing Brahim Diaz to slip in Mbappe for the opener.
Inter searched for a quick reply, with Courtois palming away a venomous free-kick from Calhanoglu, but Cristian Chivu's side were the architects of their own downfall again as Valverde's tackle on Josep Martinez ended up in the back of the net.
Curtis Jones hit the woodwork for Inter, but it was Madrid who should have added a third before the break as Josep Martinez made a great double save to deny Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, with Diaz sending the second rebound onto the post.
Courtois was on hand to keep out Jones early in the second half, while Thuram also blazed over from close range before Bellingham failed to beat Josep Martinez at the other end after brilliant work from Diaz to find the England international.
Josep Martinez was determined to atone for his earlier error, this time using his legs to stop Mbappe, and Inter finally got the better of Courtois in the 77th minute as Carlos Augusto turned in from Lautaro Martinez's low centre.
Madrid slowly dropped back into its own half as Inter searched for an equaliser, but Courtois refused to be beaten a second time, pushing away a deflected strike from Henrikh Mkhitaryan late on to secure all three points for Los Blancos.
