Real Madrid vs Inter Milan: Champions League Clash Preview, Team Updates, and Prediction
- Teams: Real Madrid vs Inter Milan
- Competition: UEFA Champions League Group Stage
- Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
- Date and Time: Tuesday, September 8, 21:00 (19:00 GMT)
- Coverage: Al Jazeera Sport with live text commentary from 16:00 GMT
Mourinho Returns to Face Former Side
Jose Mourinho begins his second spell managing Real Madrid against the current Serie A champions Inter Milan, a club where he achieved remarkable success. Back in 2010, Mourinho led Inter to a historic treble—winning Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League by defeating Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The following week, Mourinho moved to Real Madrid, beginning his first tenure with the Spanish giants. Now, 16 years later, he faces the Italian side once again, aiming to make an impact on the European stage.
Mourinho on Pressure and Past Achievements
“No, it is two different spells,” Mourinho said when asked if he felt any debt to Real Madrid from before. “When I left in 2013, we gave it our all. What I need to do now has nothing to do with the past.”
He also noted the progress of the club since his first spell: “Back in 2010, Real Madrid weren’t even reaching quarterfinals. Now they have six Champions League titles in just over a decade.”
Following a recent 1-0 defeat to Real Betis, Mourinho emphasized the need for stability at Madrid: “We want to win every match, but you have to build stability and structure. Real Madrid must win here no matter what.”
Mbappe Talks Team Dynamics and Improvement
Kylian Mbappe was asked about his relationship with teammate Vinicius Jr and the dressing room atmosphere. He downplayed any significant changes compared to last season, stating the environment remains consistent despite the new coach.
“What does improvement in the dressing room mean? It’s the same as last year,” Mbappe explained.
Mbappe acknowledged the team must enhance their goal-scoring abilities: “I score more than some PSG players, but I also need to improve. Everyone needs to get better both in finishing and ball control.”
Recent Matches Recap
Real Madrid vs Real Betis
Madrid's unbeaten start under Mourinho ended with a 1-0 loss at Real Betis. Mbappe missed a late penalty, saved by goalkeeper Alvaro Valles, sealing the victory for Betis. Earlier, Vinicius Junior hit the post, and Mbappe’s attempts were blocked, showing Madrid’s struggle to break down their opponents.
The winning goal came late when Troy Parrott scored after Thibaut Courtois denied Nelson Deossa’s header.
Inter Milan vs Napoli
Inter staged a dramatic comeback to beat Napoli 3-2. Trailing by two goals early in the second half, Lautaro Martinez scored twice, including a last-minute winner after a frantic scramble in the penalty area. Substitute Marcus Thuram nearly equalized with a header that hit the post.
Head-to-Head and Predictions
- Total Meetings: 19
- Real Madrid Wins: 10
- Inter Wins: 7
- Draws: 2
- Last Inter Win Against Madrid: 1998 (Roberto Baggio scored twice)
- Last Five Matches:Dec 07, 2021: Real Madrid 2-0 Inter Milan (Champions League)
- Sep 15, 2021: Inter Milan 0-1 Real Madrid (Champions League)
- Nov 25, 2020: Inter Milan 0-2 Real Madrid (Champions League)
- Nov 03, 2020: Real Madrid 3-2 Inter Milan (Champions League)
- Nov 25, 1998: Inter Milan 3-1 Real Madrid (Champions League)
Team News
Real Madrid
- Suspended: Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler, Bernardo Silva (all suspended from last season)
- Injured: Eder Militao, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy, Raul Asencio
- Fitness Doubts: Aurelien Tchouameni, Thiago Pitarch, Endrick, Marc Cucurella (all back in training but tested)
Expected Lineup: Courtois (GK); Dumfries, Konate, Huijsen, Cucurella; Bellingham, Valverde; Diomande, Diaz, Vinicius Jr; Mbappe
Inter Milan
- Unavailable: Federico Dimarco (knee injury)
- Unlikely to Play: Djed Spence (recovering from injury)
Predicted Starting XI: Josep Martinez (GK); Bastoni, Bisseck, Akanji; Diouf, Barella, Jones, Calhanoglu, Augusto; Lautaro Martinez, Thuram
