Real Madrid vs. Inter Milan: Champions League Line-ups and Match Details

Inter Milan has announced its starting eleven for the Champions League encounter against a depleted Real Madrid squad. Key players for Inter include Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, and Curtis Jones, though Federico Dimarco is sidelined due to injury.

The match is scheduled to kick off at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid at 20:00 UK time (21:00 CEST).

This fixture marks the opening game of the Champions League campaign for both Italian and Spanish clubs and features several notable reunions, including Inter coach Cristian Chivu and his former mentor José Mourinho, who led Inter to a treble in 2010.

Inter's squad depth is tested as Dimarco has been ruled out with a knee issue sustained in their recent Serie A victory over Napoli. Djed Spence is also a doubt, leading to Carlos Augusto starting on the left flank, and Andy Diouf being preferred over Luis Henrique on the right wing.

Curtis Jones makes his debut start since his transfer from Liverpool. In defense, Manuel Akanji and John Stones are replaced by Benjamin Pavard and Yann Bisseck.

Marcus Thuram returns to the starting lineup alongside Lautaro Martinez, pushing Francesco Pio Esposito to the bench.

Real Madrid enters this match on the back of a surprising 1-0 away defeat to Real Betis, where Kylian Mbappé's penalty was saved. The team is also grappling with numerous injuries, with Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Raul Asencio, and Rodrygo unavailable. Adding to their challenges, Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler, and Eduardo Camavinga are suspended for this opening Champions League fixture. Aurelien Tchouaméni, Endrick, and Thiago Pitarch are only fit enough for a place on the bench.

Denzel Dumfries faces his former club just months after departing San Siro. Brahim Diaz, Antonio Rudiger, and Dean Huijsen also have previous experience in Serie A.

New signings Marc Cucurella and Ibrahima Konaté are in the starting XI, joined by Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Mbappé.

In a tactical surprise, Trent Alexander-Arnold is slated to play in midfield in a 4-2-3-1 formation, leaving the €125 million signing Yan Diomande on the bench.

Real Madrid vs. Inter Line-ups

Real Madrid: Courtois; Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen, Cucurella; Alexander-Arnold, Valverde; Brahim Diaz, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr; Mbappé

Real Madrid Bench: Lunin, Sergio Mestre, Endrick, Tchouaméni, Carreras, Carlos Espi, Rudiger, Diomande, Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero, Mario Rivas

Inter: Josep Martinez; Pavard, Bisseck, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Calhanoglu, Jones, Carlos Augusto; Thuram, Lautaro Martinez

Inter Bench: Di Gennaro, Provedel, Stankovic, Stones, Zielinski, Sucic, Luis Henrique, Bonny, Mkhitaryan, Akanji, Esposito

Referee: Oliver (ENG)

Match Summary

Date: September 8, 2026

Kick-off Time: 20:00 UK time (21:00 CEST)

Venue: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid

Full-time Score: Real Madrid 2 - 0 Inter

Key Moments and Scorers:

14': Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) - Goal (Assist: Brahim Díaz)
23': Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) - Goal
39': Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter) - Yellow Card

Starting Lineups:

Real Madrid:

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
Defenders: Dean Huijsen, Ibrahima Konaté, Marc Cucurella, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Brahim Díaz, Denzel Dumfries, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham
Attackers: Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior

Inter:

Goalkeeper: Josep Martínez
Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni, Benjamin Pavard, Yann Bisseck
Midfielders: Carlos Augusto, Curtis Jones, Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolò Barella
Attackers: Andy Diouf, Lautaro Martínez, Marcus Thuram

Substitutes:

Real Madrid:

Antonio Rüdiger, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Andriy Lunin, Sergio Mestre, Álvaro Carreras, Endrick, Yan Diomande, Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero, Carlos Espí, Mario Rivas

Inter:

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Ivan Provedel, Manuel Akanji, Luis Henrique, Aleksandar Stankovic, Raffaele Di Gennaro, Pio Esposito, John Stones, Piotr Zielinski, Ange-Yoan Bonny, Petar Sucic