The Champions League returns to the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday night, and it does so with a familiar backdrop: Real Madrid under pressure, Inter Milan arriving with intent, and José Mourinho juggling problems in the one area he usually controls best — midfield.
Kick-off is at 9 p.m. CEST. The stakes feel higher than that first-night label suggests.
Madrid come into their league-phase opener bruised by a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis, a result that has already sharpened the mood around the club. Now they must launch their European campaign without a full engine room, and with a bench that looks thinner than it should for a club of this size.
Eight Out for Madrid, and the Heart of the Team Ripped Out
The numbers are stark. Eight Real Madrid players are listed as unavailable.
- Raúl Asencio
- Endrick
- Éder Militão
- Thiago Pitarch
- Rodrygo
are all sidelined through injury, robbing Mourinho of depth across the pitch. But the real damage lies in the suspensions.
- Eduardo Camavinga
- Arda Güler
- Bernardo Silva
are all banned for this Champions League opener. Camavinga and Güler carry over suspensions from last season. Silva sits out after his red card in a previous clash with Real Madrid.
Those three absences rip through Mourinho’s core structure. The coach built his side around their versatility and control; now he must improvise.
He admitted Madrid have “known issues” for the match, but insisted his team will compete and play to win. He even spoke of having “3, 4, or 5 options” to solve the midfield puzzle, then shut the door on any further tactical clues.
One more question hangs over the night: Aurélien Tchouaméni.
The Frenchman has been working his way back from a muscular problem and could return, but Mourinho has not confirmed whether he will start. His presence would change the shape and the tone of Madrid’s play. His absence would turn a selection headache into a full-blown migraine.
Endrick, also nursing a muscular issue, remains a doubt after missing the opening matches of the season. Even if he makes the squad, he is unlikely to be at full tilt.
Inter Arrive Lighter, Sharper, and Almost at Full Strength
Across the technical area, Cristian Chivu can look at his squad list with far more comfort.
UEFA list no confirmed absentees for Inter Milan. Only Federico Dimarco stands out as a doubt, after the wing-back picked up a knee problem in the Serie A meeting with Napoli. His condition is the one cloud over Chivu’s preparations.
If Dimarco does not make it, Inter will need to reshape their left flank — a key zone in both phases of their game. With Madrid likely to push Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé into wide and half-space channels, that side of the pitch could decide the rhythm of the night.
Beyond Dimarco, Inter look strong. Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Nicolò Barella, Alessandro Bastoni and Lautaro Martínez are all expected to feature. That spine gives Chivu a clear selection advantage over a Madrid side stretched by injuries and three Champions League suspensions.
On paper, Inter travel lighter. On the pitch, they may play heavier.
Predicted Lineups: Two Back Threes, One Weakened Midfield
UEFA’s latest predicted lineups suggest a tactical mirror.
For Real Madrid, Mourinho is expected to stick with a 3-5-2. Thibaut Courtois should start in goal, with Ibrahima Konaté, Antonio Rüdiger and Dean Huijsen forming a powerful, if slightly improvised, back three.
Across midfield, the projected five are Denzel Dumfries, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Brahim Díaz and Marc Cucurella. It is a blend of energy, creativity and adaptability, but also a reflection of necessity. Without Camavinga, Güler and Silva, Mourinho must lean on Bellingham’s authority between the lines and Valverde’s relentless running to hold the side together.
Up front, the expectation is clear: Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé. Two of the most dangerous forwards in Europe, tasked with turning a patched-up structure into a winning team.
Inter’s predicted XI also leans on a back three. Josep Martínez is tipped to start in goal, behind Yann Bisseck, Manuel Akanji and Alessandro Bastoni.
In midfield, Denzel Dumfries, Çalhanoğlu, Barella, Piotr Zieliński and Dimarco are all expected to feature, provided the latter passes his fitness test. Lautaro Martínez and Francesco Pio Esposito are projected to lead the line, a mix of established star and emerging talent.
Both sides may still adjust before kick-off, especially if Tchouaméni or Dimarco fail their final checks. The official lineups will arrive roughly an hour before the game. By then, the tactical cards will be on the table.
For now, one truth stands out: Inter walk into the Bernabéu with a full deck. Mourinho, on opening night in Europe, has to play his hand with three of his best midfielders watching from the stands.
