◤UEFA Champions League - League Phase◢ Kylian Mbappé scores as Real Madrid secure narrow 2-1 win over Inter Milan..

Real Madrid secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday in their opening match of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league stage match at the Estadio Bernabéu.

In the first half, a collective collapse of concentration in the Inter defense allowed Mbappé to capitalize and score. Shortly after, Inter goalkeeper Josep Martínez "played with fire" inside his own penalty area, which allowed Federico Valverde to steal the ball and score; a follow-up effort from close range by Jude Bellingham was brilliantly saved. In the second half, a close-range strike from Bellingham was kept out on the goal line, while Carlos Augusto found the net with a powerful shot. Ultimately, Real Madrid defeated Inter Milan 2-1. Following this round of matches, Los Blancos sit in fifth place with three points, while I Nerazzurri are currently 34th with zero points.

First Half

In the 3rd minute, Andy Diouf cut the ball back from the byline at the right side of the box. Marcus Thuram quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, volleyed with his right foot with his right from the center of the with his right box, but his his shot that was saved by Thibaut Courtois.

11 minutes later, Real Madrid launched a lethal quick counter-attack. After Curtis Jones and Yann Bisseck committed consecutive errors in their own back half, Brahim Díaz won possession and played a through-ball. After beating the offside trap, Kylian Mbappé quickly followed up, got the ball and took a few steps before volleying the ball into the empty net as goalkeeper against the outrushing Josep Martínez with his right foot, to give Real Madrid an early 1-0 lead. With this goal, the France international forward equaled the record of 71 Champions League goals held by Real Madrid and Spain legend Raúl, becoming the fifth-highest scorer in the competition's history. 

In the 24th minute, Real Madrid launched another deadly quick counter-attack. After receiving a pass from Benjamin Pavard inside his own penalty area, goalkeeper Josep Martínez attempted some risky, fancy footwork. Federico Valverde pounced on the opportunity to dispossess him and immediately slotted the ball into the net with a left-footed shot from point-blank range, swiftly extending Real Madrid's lead to 2–0!

12 minutes later, Carlos Augusto played a horizontal pass from the byline at the left side of the box. Curtis Jones stopped the ball, turned around and adjust his angle before volleying with his left foot, but his shot sailed high over the bar.

2 minutes into first-half stoppage time, Real Madrid mounted another counter-attack. Pavard misplaced a pass near the midfield center circle. Kylian Mbappé quickly followed up, intercepted the ball and dribbled into the left side of the box before firing a left-footed shot from a difficult angle. His shot was initially blocked off not far away by Josep Martínez's outstreched leg, Jude Bellingham quickly followed up and upon picking up the loose ball, took a left-footed followu-up shot from a very close distance in the box, only for Josep Martínez to pull off a brilliant save.

At the end of the first half, Real Madrid headed into the break temporarily leading Inter Milan by 2-0.

Second Half

Both teams switched sides as the match continued. In the 58th minute, Díaz delivered an overhead horizontal cross from the byline at the right side of the box, before Bellingham stopped the ball and half-volleyed with his right foot shot from the left side of the box, but his shot saved by Josep Martínez's outstretched leg.

5 minutes later, Piotr Zieliński passes horizontally from the front. Alessandro Bastoni got the ball and took a few steps before taking a right-footed  long shot from outside the box, but his shot was saved by Courtois. 

In the 77th minute, Lautaro Martínez playe cutback from the byline at the right side of the box. Carlos Augusto quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, volleyed the ball into the lower center of the net with his right foot from the center of the box, pulling a goal back for Inter Milan to make it 2–1!

When the final whistle is blown, Real Madrid secured a narrow 2–1 victory over Inter Milan.

Image source: Internet / AFP