José Mourinho began his return to Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over his former club Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Madrid took control in the opening half after Inter were punished for defensive mistakes. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring before Federico Valverde doubled the advantage, giving the Spanish side a comfortable cushion at the break.
Inter responded strongly after halftime and eventually pulled one goal back through Carlos Augusto in the 77th minute. The visitors pushed for an equaliser, but Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced several important saves to preserve the lead.
The result was particularly significant for Mourinho, who guided Inter to Champions League glory in 2010 at the Bernabéu. His Madrid side entered the match looking to recover from a LaLiga defeat to Real Betis and delivered an entertaining European performance.
Inter goalkeeper Josep Martínez recovered from his first-half error by making a series of impressive stops, including efforts from Jude Bellingham and Mbappé. However, Inter's missed opportunities ultimately proved costly as Madrid held on for all three points.
Courtois was equally influential at the other end, denying several dangerous efforts as Cristian Chivu's side increased the pressure late in the match. His final save from a deflected Henrikh Mkhitaryan attempt ensured Madrid avoided a dramatic late collapse.
ADD A COMMENT :