Real Madrid survive Inter scare on Mourinho’s return

Real Madrid began their Champions League campaign with a victory over Inter, but the result told only part of the story. On José Mourinho’s return to the Bernabéu in Europe, Madrid were pushed to the limit and needed a string of saves from Thibaut Courtois, including a decisive late intervention, to cling on.

A fast start, then a long struggle

Two goals in the opening 23 minutes gave Madrid the platform for a 2-1 win, with Kylian Mbappé and Fede Valverde putting the home side in front. Yet the early advantage sat awkwardly with the flow of the game, because Inter had started with greater control and threat.

Before Madrid had established themselves, Courtois was already required to make an important stop from Marcus Thuram. Inter were moving the ball with authority and creating openings, and for long spells they appeared the more coherent side. Madrid, by contrast, were often disjointed, particularly through midfield, where spaces repeatedly opened up.

Even so, they found a way to build a lead that would ultimately prove just enough.

Courtois keeps Madrid standing

If Madrid’s forwards gave them the cushion, Courtois protected it. The Belgian goalkeeper was at the centre of a wild contest that featured 37 shots and 13 saves shared between the two keepers. His most important contribution came in the 89th minute, when he produced an outstanding stop to deny Henrikh Mkhitaryan and preserve Madrid’s advantage.

Mourinho was clear about the scale of that contribution afterwards, saying that if Courtois was not man of the match on this occasion, he never would be. It was a fitting summary of a performance that explained why Madrid were still ahead when the final whistle arrived.

Inter did eventually beat him when Carlos Augusto pulled one back in the 77th minute, setting up a frantic finish and giving the visitors real hope. But there was no second breakthrough.

Inter’s control, Madrid’s escape

The match developed into an increasingly uncomfortable night for Madrid. Inter played through them and around them, finishing with far more attacks and passes. The Bernabéu crowd grew restless, and Vinícius Júnior in particular appeared to feel that frustration.

Mourinho acknowledged issues in Madrid’s structure, even noting Trent Alexander-Arnold’s work in a specific midfield task not naturally suited to him. The press high up the pitch was not always matched elsewhere, and that imbalance helped Inter take command of large stretches of the game.

There were still chances at the other end. Jude Bellingham admitted he had missed two clear opportunities, underlining how open and unpredictable the contest had become. That sense of chaos was reflected in Mourinho’s own assessment, describing the game as mad, even if it was not a kind of madness he enjoyed.

A win to start, questions still to answer

For all the disorder, Madrid have what matters most at the start of a Champions League campaign: a win. That will ease the immediate pressure, but the performance left plenty to examine. Inter were the sharper and more fluid side for much of the evening, and on another night the result could have looked very different.

Instead, Madrid survived. Mbappé and Valverde supplied the early goals, Courtois delivered the defining save, and Mourinho’s side escaped with a narrow victory over Inter on a night that often seemed to defy logic.