Real Madrid Vs Inter Milan: The Starting 11

The upcoming match is against Inter Milan at home at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu in the UEFA Champions League league phase opener. The last Real Madrid game was a frustrating 1-0 defeat away at Real Betis, where Kylian Mbappe missed a late penalty in stoppage time. It was a difficult result to take and the team will be eager to bounce back in the most important stage of club football.

The team rating for the match against Real Betis can be found here: Team Rating

This is Mourinho's second stint at Real Madrid and his Champions League debut in this new chapter begins tonight. Real have suffered quarter-final exits in each of the last two seasons, and the hunger to go further this time around is real. However, the timing is not ideal with a severe injury and suspension crisis hanging over the squad heading into this fixture.

Inter Milan are the Serie A title defenders and have started in electric form, taking nine points from nine in the league. They are clinical, well-organized, and arrive at the Bernabeu with a full-strength squad and a point to prove on the European stage.

Earlier head-to-head meetings in the Champions League group phase have historically favored Real Madrid, and Los Blancos will want that record to count for something tonight.

Looking at the

Injury List:

1. Eder Militao (hamstring)
2. Rodrygo (knee / ACL)
3. Ferland Mendy (hamstring)
4. Raul Asencio (tibia)
5. Aurelien Tchouameni (muscle, major doubt)
6. Thiago Pitarch (knee)

Suspended:

1. Eduardo Camavinga (ban carried over from last season)
2. Arda Guler (ban carried over from last season)
3. Bernardo Silva (ban carried over from last season)

Doubtful:

1. Marc Cucurella (calf, trained Monday, to be assessed)
2. Endrick (muscle, trained Monday, bench only if available)

Just Recovered:

1. Marc Cucurella
2. Endrick
3. Aurelien Tchouameni (in light training, unlikely to start)

Practiced:

The rest of the players are available for selection.

Skipped Practice:

• None confirmed

Coach Comments:

Mourinho: "Inter are a great team, a complete team. But this is the Bernabeu and we play at home in the Champions League. My players know what this shirt demands. We will be ready."

Other Comments:

Valverde: "We have had some difficult days with injuries and suspensions. But those of us who are available are ready to give everything. The Champions League is where this club lives."

Squad Updates:

This will be Real Madrid's first European outing of the 2026-27 season, and the injury and suspension list reads like a crisis management document. Mourinho could be without as many as eight or nine first-team regulars, which makes selection almost painful before a ball has been kicked in the group phase.

In goal, Thibaut Courtois starts. He is one of the best in the business on the big stage and this occasion will suit him. Courtois will need to be at his commanding best against the likes of Lautaro Martinez and Esposito, who are a dangerous striking partnership.

In defense, with Militao and Mendy both out injured, the back four nearly selects itself. Denzel Dumfries should start at right back, with Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen forming the center back partnership. Marc Cucurella, who came off with cramp against Betis, trained on Monday and should be fit to return at left back. This is a makeshift backline but each player has the quality to handle Inter's attacking threat.

The midfield is where the real headache lies. Camavinga, Guler, and Bernardo Silva are all suspended. Tchouameni is a major doubt and Thiago Pitarch is sidelined. That leaves Mourinho remarkably short in the engine room. The most sensible solution is to deploy Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham as a double pivot, with Bellingham dropping deeper than he would ideally like. Brahim Diaz should operate in the advanced midfield role just behind the front three. Trent Alexander-Arnold could slot into midfield if needed, but Mourinho seems unlikely to move him from his natural position early in the campaign.

Upfront, the forward line picks itself. Vinicius Junior starts on the left, where he has been in typically bright form and remains the most dangerous player in the competition over the last five seasons. Kylian Mbappe leads the attack and will be desperate to make amends for that Betis miss. Yan Diomande or Brahim Diaz should support from the right, with Diomande potentially earning a first Bernabeu start in this fixture.

Endrick could feature from the bench if cleared, as Mourinho has already confirmed he is available for around 10 minutes. Alexander-Arnold, Tchouameni if fit, and Ceballos round out the bench options.

Inter, for their part, arrive with Federico Dimarco as their only notable absentee. Cristian Chivu has a near-full squad and will set up in a 3-5-2 with Barella and Zielinski controlling the midfield. This is a formidable machine and Real's depleted engine room will be under serious pressure.

As five substitutions are available, Mourinho should plan his bench moves carefully. If Real get an early goal, the natural instinct will be to consolidate, but pushing Endrick or Tchouameni in the second half could provide the spark to kill the game off.

The Probable Substitutions Will Be:

• Diomande > Espi
• Vinicius Jr > Endrick (late cameo if available)
• Bellingham > Alexander-Arnold (if tactical shift needed)
• Cucurella > Rudiger (if fitness concerns recur)
• Mbappe > Espi (if scoreline is comfortable)

So the formation would be 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 depending on the phase of the game.

Probable Starting XI

GK:

Courtois

Defence:

Dumfries Konate Huijsen Cucurella

Double Pivot:

Valverde Bellingham

Attack Support:

Diomande Brahim Diaz Vinicius Jr

Centre Forward:

Mbappe

Formation: 4-2-3-1