Real Madrid hold off Inter Milan in Champions League opener
Kylian Mbappé and Fede Valverde scored in the first half before Carlos Augusto’s late goal set up a tense finish at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday, recovering from their La Liga defeat to Real Betis on Friday.
Kylian Mbappé put the hosts ahead in the 14th minute after an Inter defensive error. Fede Valverde doubled the lead in the first half when he dispossessed goalkeeper Josep Martínez.
Inter responded in the second half, with Carlos Augusto scoring in the 77th minute from Lautaro Martínez’s cross. Real Madrid then defended their advantage through the closing stages.
Both goalkeepers played important roles. Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois denied Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Martínez and Alessandro Bastoni, while Martínez made several saves to keep Inter in contention.
Al Jazeera Global News reported that the match was José Mourinho’s first Champions League game since returning to Real Madrid. Mourinho previously coached Inter to Champions League success in 2010, according to the report.
