CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BETTING PREVIEW - REAL MADRID VS INTER MILAN

Champions League

2026-09-08 - Real Madrid vs Inter Milan

A Sports Betting Preview by Auls

Real Madrid v Inter Milan
Football: UEFA Champions League Match Day 1
Tuesday 8th September 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV

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Real Madrid

Winning the Champions League with Porto sparked his managerial career and Jose Mourinho has also led Inter Milan to glory in this competition. He is back in charge of European powerhouses Real Madrid having managed here for three seasons between 2010 and 2013 and it will have come as a surprise to many that Jose Mourinho has been offered this opportunity having slipped away from this level for several years.

The Champions League/European Cup has always been the target for Real Madrid and they have won this competition as recently as 2024, but back to back Quarter Final defeats have meant turning back to Jose Mourinho. In his first tenure as manager, Mourinho took Real Madrid to the Champions League Semi Final in each of the three seasons in charge, but even that may not be good enough for the club in 2026/27.

Real Madrid had won the opening 3 games played this season and had won 6 in a row from the end of the last campaign, but the run was snapped in a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Real Betis. The side have won 5 in a row at the Santiago Bernebeu and scored at least twice in each victory, while Real Madrid won 5 of the 7 home Champions League games played last season.

Eduardo Camavinga, Bernardo Silva and Arda Guler all serve suspensions from the end of the last European season. A host of players are out through injury, but Jose Mourinho will know that the supporters pay little attention to excuses.

Inter Milan

Simone Inzaghi departed Inter Milan after taking them to the Champions League Final in 2025 and the Italian giants were seen as a genuine dark horse in the last edition of the competition. Domestically they returned to the top of the pile, but Inter Milan's Champions League run was ended in an upset defeat to Bodo/Glimt in the Knock Out Play Off Round.

Winning the Champions League for the first time since 2010 is the dream for Inter Milan, but there are several better looking contenders than the Italian Champions. They had won the opening 4 Champions League games played last season, but Inter Milan lost 5 of the last 6 fixtures, but they have been given a fixture list that could see the team challenge for a top eight finish and avoid the Play Off Round this time around.

Inter Milan are unbeaten in 15 games in all competitions and they have opened this season with 3 straight Serie A victories. The side have lost 1 of the last 10 away games played in all competitions, although it should be noted that 'away' defeat was at the San Siro against rivals AC Milan.

Federico Dimarco is a doubt for the opening Champions League game.

Head to Head

Real Madrid did the double over Inter Milan in the 2021/22 Group Stage of this competition.

The Spanish club have won 7 home games in a row against Inter Milan.

Prediction

Both of these sets of fans will have plenty of time for Jose Mourinho, but in particular the Inter Milan fans are unlikely to have forgotten the Champions League win under the Portuguese in 2010.

He did leave immediately after helping Inter Milan win the trophy when accepting the job with Real Madrid, but Mourinho has written himself into Inter history.

It is a surprise to see Mourinho in charge of Real Madrid in 2026, and he will be under pressure to deliver the big trophy.

Back to back Quarter Final exits have not been good enough and Real Madrid are short of some key players, but they can open with a positive result against the Italian Champions.

Real Madrid did win 5 of the 7 home Champions League games played last season and it cannot be ignored that Inter Milan struggled as much as they did when losing 5 of 6 Champions League ties and failing to reach the Last 16.

In general, Inter Milan have remained a stubborn team to break down when they have travelled in the Champions League, but they were beaten in the Spanish capital. That was a defeat to Atletico, but Real Madrid can match the rivals and they can open this Champions League campaign with a victory thanks to the superior firepower that is likely to be on the field.

The Pick :

Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Real Madrid to Win & Over 1 Total Goals (Bet Builder) at 1.72 with Bet365 (early payout if a team is leading by two goals)