Real Madrid have won all four meetings with Internazionale in the 21st century, while the Nerazzurri have not beaten los Blancos at the Bernabéu since 1967. This is one of the heavyweight clashes of this week's Champions League action, making it a match not to be mised.
Real Madrid vs Inter Milan match info
- Date: Tuesday 8 September 2026.
- Kick off times: 9pm (local) and 3pm (ET)
- Competition: UEFA Champions League league phase matchday 1
- Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
- How to watch: Paramount+ (USA), Movistar+ (Spain) and TNT Sports (UK).
How can I watch Real Madrid vs Inter Milan?
Country | Broadcasters |
|---|---|
USA | Paramount+ |
Spain | Movistar Liga de Campeones |
UK & Ireland | TNT Sports 1 & HBO Max |
Austria, Canada, Germany, New Zealand & Portugal | DAZN |
Australia | Stan Sport |
Arab world | beIN Sports HD 1 |
South America | ESPN |
France | Canal+ Live 2 |
Italy | Sky Sport Uno |
Real Madrid vs Inter Milan match preview
After back-to-back quarter-final exits, record 15-times Champions League winners Real Madrid are very much expecting to go much further in Europe this time. During José Mourinho's first three year stint at the club, los Blancos crashed out in the semi-finals of this competition each time, so can he guide them to glory this time round?
Well, Mourinho's team had made a perfect start to this campaign in La Liga, enjoying wins over Espanyol, Real Sociedad and Málaga. However, that came to an end on Friday night in dramatic fashion, beaten 1-0 by Real Betis. The winner came nine minutes from time at the Cartuja before, in injury time, Kylian Mbappé saw a spot-kick saved, one that was controversially not retaken despite obvious encroachment. This defeat was perhaps a reminder that Real Madrid are not a complete team just yet.
Looking at their Champions League fixtures, since the introduction of the league phase, los Blancos have finished 11th and ninth, targeting a top eight finish this year. They will also host RB Leipzig, PSV Eindhoven and LASK, as well as facing Roma, AEK Athens, Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk on the road. Thus, this is one of their toughest games on paper, so starting with three points would leave los Merengues well placed to finish high up the table.
As for Internazionale Milano, having featured in two of the last four Champions League Finals, they cannot be underestimated. The Nerazzurri are reigning Serie A champions, their third Scudetti in six seasons, but were ignominiously ousted in the first knockout round of this competition by Bodø/Glimt last February. Thus, Cristian Chivu is under pressure to deliver significantly better.
Well, Inter have made the perfect to their Serie A title defence, winning three out of three, albeit only just. On Saturday evening, Il Biscione produced a famous comeback to beat Napoli 3-2 at San Siro.
Lautaro Martínez halved the deficit just before the hour mark, Marcus Thuram lashed home the equaliser towards the end, before the Argentine captain poked home a stoppage time winner. This is a reminder that Real Madrid cannot taking anything for granted, setting up a fascinating Champions League opener at the Bernabéu on Tuesday night.
Real Madrid team news
Raúl Asencio, Ferland Mendy, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Rodrygo and Endrick all remain sidelined. Meantime, Carlos Espí is developing something of a reputation for being a super sub, bagging the last-gasp winner at Espanyol, before seeing an equaliser on Friday disallowed due to offside.
Meantime, Arda Güler and Eduardo Camavinga are both suspended, after they were sent off during last season's quarter-final exit against Bayern Munich. Thus, Bernardo Silva and Yan Diomandé are likely to come in, the latter starting for the first time.
Lastly, Denzel Dumfries will fae his former club, chosen over Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Inter Milan team news
New signing Djed Spence is yet to make his Inter debut, so Andy Diouf and Federico Dimarco will continue to be the wing-backs. After impressing off the bench against Napoli, Curtis Jones has surely earnt himself a start, coming in for Petar Sučić. In attack, Marcus Thuram, scorer off the bench at the weekend, he is expected to come in for Pio Esposito.
Predicted Line-ups
- Real Madrid predicted lineup: Courtois; Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen, Cucurella; Valverde, Silva, Bellingham; Diomandé, Vinícius, Mbappé.
- Inter Milan predicted lineup: Martínez; Akanji, Bisseck, Bastoni; Diouf, Zieliński, Jones, Barella, Dimarco; Thuram, Martínez.
- Score prediction: Real Madrid 2-0 Inter Milan.
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