Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring as Real Madrid defeated Inter Milan 2-1 in their Champions League opener on September 8, 2026. The match took place at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid, managed by Jose Mourinho, took a two-goal lead in the first half with goals from Mbappe and Fede Valverde, both capitalizing on errors from Inter Milan. In the second half, Carlos Augusto scored for Inter, but they were unable to equalize.
Mourinho, who previously led Inter Milan to Champions League victory in 2010, returned to Real Madrid after two seasons without a major trophy. His team began the league phase with a win, bouncing back from a defeat against Real Betis in La Liga.
Despite a strong start from Inter, they were hindered by defensive mistakes. In the 14th minute, a poor pass from Curtis Jones allowed Brahim Diaz to assist Mbappe, who scored. Valverde's goal came when Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez hesitated, allowing Valverde to take the ball and score.
Real Madrid had opportunities to extend their lead, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois making several key saves. Inter's Carlos Augusto scored in the 77th minute, making the final moments tense for Madrid. Courtois also saved a deflected shot from Henrikh Mkhitaryan to secure the win.