Mourinho Begins Champions League Return Against Former Club

Real Madrid begin their 2026/27 UEFA Champions League campaign tonight against Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu, with José Mourinho taking charge of the Spanish giants in Europe for the first time since returning to the club this summer. The fixture immediately brings one of the biggest storylines of Matchday 1, as Mourinho faces the Inter side he famously led to a historic treble in the 2009/10 season. His return to Madrid has created huge expectations after two seasons without major silverware, but the Portuguese coach has insisted that he does not feel additional pressure to win the Champions League simply because it was the major trophy he failed to claim during his first spell at the Bernabéu. Real Madrid arrive at the match needing a reaction after their perfect domestic start was ended by a 1–0 defeat to Real Betis. Mourinho has stressed that his priority is to build a stable team capable of competing consistently rather than focusing solely on one trophy, although expectations remain enormous at a club that has won the European Cup a record 15 times. Kylian Mbappé will once again be central to Madrid’s attacking threat. The French forward currently has 70 Champions League goals, and another tonight would take him level with Real Madrid legend Raúl González on the competition’s all-time scoring list. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois could also make his 100th Champions League appearance, adding another significant milestone to the occasion. Madrid do have several absences to manage. UEFA lists Raúl Asencio, Endrick, Éder Militão, Rodrygo and Thiago Pitarch among those unavailable, while Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler and Bernardo Silva are suspended. Aurélien Tchouaméni is also considered doubtful. Inter, meanwhile, arrive with a much healthier squad, though Federico Dimarco is listed as a doubt with a knee problem. History favours Real Madrid. They have won six of their last seven meetings with Inter, have also won 19 of their last 21 matches against Italian opposition, and have started 17 of their last 19 Champions League campaigns with a victory. Inter’s challenge is made tougher by the fact that they are winless in their last 13 European away matches against Spanish clubs. For Mourinho, though, this is about more than statistics. It is his first Champions League night back at the Bernabéu, against one of the clubs that defined his managerial career. Real Madrid want a response after the Betis defeat, Inter want to spoil the occasion, and the 2026/27 European campaign begins with one of the biggest fixtures of the opening round.