Real Madrid 2-1 Inter: Mbappe and Valverde pounce on lazy errors

Real Madrid began their 2026-27 Champions League campaign with victory as they defeated Inter 2-1 at Estadio Bernabeu.

Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde were on target as Inter were 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 who 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 their 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.

Mbappe ties Madrid great while Courtois reaches century

Mbappe, who was unsurprisingly named a nominee for the Ballon d'Or earlier on Tuesday, once again found the net in the Champions League. The Frenchman has now tied Los Blancos legend Raul for the fifth-most goals in the competition's history (71), with Karim Benzema's total of 90 his next target.

However, this contest between Jose Mourinho's current and former sides was decided by the goalkeepers.

Courtois, on his 100th appearance in the Champions League, made seven saves to ensure a winning start for Madrid in the competition this season.

At the other end, Josep Martinez made six saves for Inter, but his mistake for Madrid's second goal ultimately proved costly.

Madrid accumulated 2.91 expected goals (xG) from 16 shots compared to Inter's 1.78 from 21 attempts, as Los Blancos have now won their last five Champions League games against Inter.