The Champions League begins: all you need to know about Real Madrid vs. Inter

The Champions League is back, bringing with it another season of great European nights. Inter will begin their campaign in the continent’s premier club competition with a prestigious trip to Madrid. The Nerazzurri open their League Phase campaign against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, taking to the pitch at the historic stadium for the first time since its recent redevelopment. The match kicks off at 21:00 CEST on Tuesday 8 September.

CALENDAR:

MATCHDAY 1 Tuesday 8 September 2026, 21:00 CEST Real Madrid vs. Inter

MATCHDAY 2 Tuesday 13 October 2026, 21:00 CEST Inter vs. Club Brugge

MATCHDAY 3 Wednesday 21 October 2026, 21:00 CEST Inter vs. Shakhtar Donetsk

MATCHDAY 4 Tuesday 3 November 2026, 21:00 CET Feyenoord vs. Inter

MATCHDAY 5 Wednesday 25 November 2026, 21:00 CET Inter vs. Stuttgart

MATCHDAY 6 Wednesday 9 December 2026, 21:00 CET Borussia Dortmund vs. Inter

MATCHDAY 7 Tuesday 19 January 2027, 21:00 CET Inter vs. Liverpool

MATCHDAY 8 Wednesday 27 January 2027, 21:00 CET Slovan Bratislava vs. Inter

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Inter and Real Madrid have met 19 times, with seven Nerazzurri victories, ten wins for Real Madrid and just two draws. Their first encounter was the legendary 1963/64 European Cup final at the Prater in Vienna, the night that cemented the greatness of La Grande Inter. The Nerazzurri won 3-1 thanks to a Mazzola brace and a goal from Milani.

The sides met again in the European Cup during the 1960s, with Real Madrid progressing from the 1965/66 semi-final and Inter prevailing in the quarter-finals the following season.

During the 1980s, Real Madrid vs. Inter became a true European classic, with another European Cup semi-final, a Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final and two consecutive UEFA Cup semi-finals. The fixture returned to Europe’s premier competition during the 1998/99 Champions League group stage. Real Madrid won 2-0 in Seville before the Nerazzurri claimed an unforgettable 3-1 victory at San Siro, inspired by Roberto Baggio’s brilliance.

Real Madrid won all four of the most recent meetings, which took place during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 Champions League group stages, although none were played at the new Bernabéu. The 2020 fixture was held at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano in Valdebebas, while Inter visited the Bernabéu in 2021 when the stadium was still undergoing redevelopment.

• Inter 3-1 Real Madrid (Mazzola 43’, Milani 62’, Felo Bautista 69’, Mazzola 76’) – 1963/64 European Cup final

• Real Madrid 1-0 Inter (Pirri 12’) – 1965/66 European Cup semi-final

• Inter 1-1 Real Madrid (Amancio 20’, Facchetti 78’) – 1965/66 European Cup semi-final

• Inter 1-0 Real Madrid (Cappellini 54’) – 1966/67 European Cup quarter-final

• Real Madrid 0-2 Inter (Cappellini 23’, Zoco og 57’) – 1966/67 European Cup quarter-final

• Real Madrid 2-0 Inter (Santillana 29’, Juanito 47’) – 1980/81 European Cup semi-final

• Inter 1-0 Real Madrid (Bini 57’) – 1980/81 European Cup semi-final

• Inter 1-1 Real Madrid (Oriali 16’, Gallego 59’) – 1982/83 Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final

• Real Madrid 2-1 Inter (Altobelli 20’, Salguero 51’, Santillana 55’) – 1982/83 Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final

• Inter 2-0 Real Madrid (Brady pen 25’, Altobelli 57’) – 1984/85 UEFA Cup semi-final

• Real Madrid 3-0 Inter (Santillana 12’, 42’, Michel 57’) – 1984/85 UEFA Cup semi-final

• Inter 3-1 Real Madrid (Tardelli 1’, 54’, Valdano 87’, Salguero og 89’) – 1985/86 UEFA Cup semi-final

• Real Madrid 5-1 Inter (AET) (Sanchez pen 44’, Gordillo 63’, Brady pen 66’, Sanchez pen 74’, Santillana 94’, 107’) – 1985/86 UEFA Cup semi-final

• Real Madrid 2-0 Inter (Hierro pen 80’, Seedorf 90+1’) – 1998/99 Champions League group stage

• Inter 3-1 Real Madrid (Zamorano 50’, Seedorf 59’, R. Baggio 85’, 90+2’) – 1998/99 Champions League group stage

• Real Madrid 3-2 Inter (Benzema 26’, Ramos 33’, Martínez 36’, Perisic 69’, Rodrygo 81’) – 2020/21 Champions League group stage

• Inter 0-2 Real Madrid (Hazard pen 7’, Hakimi og 61’) – 2020/21 Champions League group stage

• Inter 0-1 Real Madrid (Rodrygo 90+1’) – 2021/22 Champions League group stage

• Real Madrid 2-0 Inter (Kroos 17’, Asensio 80’) – 2021/22 Champions League group stage

REAL MADRID

Real Madrid begin their latest Champions League campaign with lofty ambitions after undergoing a major overhaul during the summer. The most notable change came in the dugout, where José Mourinho has returned for a second spell after previously coaching Los Blancos between 2010 and 2013. The former Nerazzurri boss, who led Inter to the Treble in 2009/10, will face his old club for the seventh time in his career. Mourinho can call upon several high-quality new arrivals, with Konaté joining from Liverpool, Cucurella from Chelsea, Bernardo Silva from Manchester City, Yan Diomandé from Leipzig and Espí from Levante. Denzel Dumfries has also moved to Madrid and will immediately come up against Inter, where he spent the past five seasons.

Los Blancos made an emphatic start to the campaign, winning 2-1 away to Espanyol before recording commanding home victories over Real Sociedad (4-1) and Málaga (4-0). However, they suffered their first defeat last time out, losing 1-0 away to Real Betis. Among the many stars in Mourinho’s 4-2-3-1, Kylian Mbappé continues to shine brightest. Last season’s Champions League top scorer has begun the new league campaign with four goals in as many appearances.

DISCIPLINARY SITUATION

SUSPENDED Real Madrid: Camavinga, Bernardo Silva, Güler Inter: none

AT RISK OF SUSPENSION Real Madrid: none Inter: none

REFEREE

English referee Michael Oliver will take charge of Real Madrid vs. Inter on Matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League League Phase.

Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG) Assistant referees: Stuart Burt (ENG), James Mainwaring (ENG) Fourth official: Sam Barrott (ENG) VAR: Andrew Dallas (SCO) AVAR: Michael Salisbury (ENG)

REAL MADRID VS. INTER: WHERE TO WATCH ON TV

Real Madrid vs. Inter, on Matchday 1 of the 2026/27 Champions League League Phase, kicks off at the Bernabéu at 21:00 CEST on Tuesday 8 September. In Italy, the match will be broadcast exclusively on Sky and NOW, with streaming available via Sky Go and NOW TV.

UPDATES ON INTER TV

Inter TV will provide its usual pre-match updates and live coverage, bringing you all the latest news from Madrid ahead of kick-off. Our Livematch show will begin at 19:30 CEST and will also be available on the Club’s official YouTube channel until 20:15 CEST. Post-match analysis and interviews will follow after the final whistle.