From the 1964 final to the new Bernabéu: the history of Real Madrid vs. Inter

A special fixture, like leafing through the pages of a treasured old book. A familiar melody that evokes dreams of greatness and sends a shiver down the spine. A stadium steeped in cherished memories. Inter will begin their 2026/27 European campaign on one of world football’s most iconic stages as they face Real Madrid at the Bernabéu. It will be a meeting between two giants of European football and the first between the Nerazzurri and Los Blancos at the new Bernabéu. Over the years, the two sides have produced spectacular encounters filled with goals and unforgettable moments of brilliance. When Real Madrid and Inter meet on Tuesday 8 September, it will be their 20th encounter in European competition. Ahead of the game, we delve into the archives to relive some iconic moments from the previous 19 meetings with Los Blancos.

THE FIRST TIME

27 May is a red-letter date in Inter’s history. It was the date of the Club’s first two European triumphs and evokes memories of a team that defined an entire generation of Nerazzurri supporters and an era of world football. On 27 May 1964 in Vienna, captain Armando Picchi lifted Inter’s first European Cup, propelling the Nerazzurri into a new dimension as they took their place on the throne of Europe. It was fitting that their opponents were the team that had dominated the continent until then: the seemingly invincible Real Madrid of Di Stéfano and Puskás, winners of the first five editions of the competition. The final at the Prater was the first meeting between the two sides, the night Herrera’s Inter came of age by beating the very best. It became part of Nerazzurri folklore, with Sandro Mazzola opening and rounding off the scoring, Milani making it 2-0 and Felo pulling one back for Real Madrid. The teams met four more times during the 1960s. Real Madrid prevailed in the 1965/66 European Cup semi-finals, winning 1-0 in Madrid before a 1-1 draw in Milano, while Inter came out on top in the quarter-final tie the following season.

THE 1980s: A EUROPEAN CLASSIC

After a decade without meeting, Real Madrid and Inter contested a series of ties during the 1980s that established the fixture as a classic of European football. It became an almost annual occurrence, with eight matches played between 1981 and 1986 across the European Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Cup. Real Madrid prevailed in each of the two-legged ties, with the Bernabéu proving an impenetrable fortress and Santillana often playing the decisive role. In the first leg of the 1981 European Cup semi-final, Los Blancos claimed a 2-0 victory in Madrid. The Nerazzurri won the return fixture 1-0 through Bini but were unable to overturn the deficit. What Inter had failed to do, Real Madrid managed in their subsequent UEFA Cup ties: after losing at San Siro, Los Blancos turned the result around at the Bernabéu.

BAGGIO’S BRACE AND ADRIANO’S DEBUT

Twelve years passed after the 1986 UEFA Cup semi-final before Inter and Real Madrid met again. This time, the two sides crossed paths towards the end of the 1990s in the group stage of the 1998/99 Champions League.

The first meeting, which Real Madrid won 2-0 through goals from Hierro and Seedorf, was not played at the Bernabéu due to an unusual incident during the Spanish side’s final home match of the previous edition against Borussia Dortmund. Supporters had crowded around and clung to the fencing behind the goal beneath the South Stand, causing it to collapse under their weight. Kick-off was delayed by an hour while a replacement was installed, allowing the match to go ahead, but the incident earned Real Madrid a one-match stadium ban that applied to their next European home fixture against Inter.

The Nerazzurri gained revenge in the return fixture thanks to an unforgettable brace from Roberto Baggio. With the score poised at 1-1 following goals from Zamorano and Seedorf, the Divine Ponytail struck twice late on (85’ and 90+2’) to seal victory for Inter.

Another iconic encounter, albeit not a competitive one, took place at the Bernabéu on 14 August 2001. That night, a young Brazilian striker mesmerised the Madrid crowd on his Inter debut. Adriano’s first appearance in Nerazzurri colours lit up the Trofeo Bernabéu and introduced the world to the extraordinary talent of L’Imperatore. The dribbles, nutmegs, moments of magic and that thunderous free-kick into the top corner beyond Iker Casillas remain etched in the memories of Inter supporters.

THE MOST RECENT MEETINGS

Inter did not face Real Madrid for more than 20 years, although the Bernabéu provided the backdrop to one of the greatest nights in the Club’s history when captain Zanetti lifted the Champions League trophy on 22 May 2010.

The two sides finally met again in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons. The first pair of fixtures took place amid COVID-19 restrictions, with empty stadiums and surreal atmospheres. Real Madrid won both group-stage encounters: the first 3-2 at their Valdebebas training ground, where they were playing during the redevelopment of the Bernabéu, with Rodrygo’s goal undoing the Nerazzurri’s comeback; and the return fixture 2-0 at San Siro.

The following season’s meetings also ended in victories for Los Blancos. Rodrygo was decisive once again, settling the match at the Meazza (90+1’), before Kroos and Asensio secured the win in the return fixture at a reduced-capacity Bernabéu.