José Mourinho’s Real Madrid opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over his former club Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday.
Kylian Mbappé and Fede Valverde put the 15-time European champions two up in the first half after Inter errors. Carlos Augusto pulled one back in the second half for Cristian Chivu’s side, but Inter could not equalise. Mourinho won this competition with Inter at the same stadium in 2010, days before his first Madrid appointment—the last time either he or Inter lifted the trophy.
After two seasons without a major honour and early European exits, president Florentino Pérez brought the Portuguese back. The win followed a first league defeat of the season at Real Betis on Friday.
“It was a crazy game,” Mourinho told Movistar. “A game that finished 2-1 could have finished 7-6 without any problems.” He said neither team controlled the match. Thibaut Courtois, on his 100th Champions League appearance, made several saves.
Inter captain Lautaro Martínez admitted his side wasted chances. “We still leave here with heads held high,” he said, “but we need to improve in front of goal.”
Inter began brightly until two mistakes decided the half. In the 14th minute a poor pass from Curtis Jones left Yann Bisseck exposed; Brahim Díaz found Mbappé, who finished. Valverde scored the second when goalkeeper Josep Martínez lingered on the ball and the Uruguayan bundled it in.
Martínez later denied Jude Bellingham from close range. Augusto’s 77th-minute strike from Lautaro’s cross made the finish uneasy; Courtois then kept out a deflected Henrikh Mkhitaryan effort. Valverde was named player of the match but said the prize also belonged to Courtois.
The night was entertainment more than control. Mourinho’s return is already being judged on whether Madrid can win ugly as well as win open. Three points from a “crazy” game is a start. Repeat nights like this without Courtois at his best would not be.
