Brahim Diaz has been named in Real Madrid’s starting line-up for their Champions League meeting with Inter Milan at Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, 8 September 2026. The match is the opening fixture of the league phase, with the official teams confirming Diaz’s place in the Spanish side’s attacking formation.
The Morocco international will operate in the forward line alongside Jude Bellingham, behind Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius. His role will be central to Real Madrid’s attacking play as they attempt to break down a strong Inter defence in front of their home supporters.
Thibaut Courtois starts in goal for Real Madrid. The defence features Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen and Marc Cucurella, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Federico Valverde are selected in midfield.
The team selection gives Diaz the opportunity to make an immediate impact in one of the evening’s biggest European fixtures. With Bellingham alongside him and Mbappe and Vinicius leading the line, Real Madrid have selected an attacking group built around pace, movement and creativity.
Inter also begin the match with an experienced and powerful team. Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez are paired in attack, while the Italian side’s midfield includes Andy Diouf, Carlos Augusto, Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu.
The Nerazzurri’s defensive line is listed as Benjamin Pavard, Yann Bisseck, Alessandro Bastoni and Carlos Augusto. The official team sheet also includes Jones in midfield, alongside Diouf, Calhanoglu and Barella.
Real Madrid’s line-up is:
Real Madrid: Courtois; Dumfries, Konate, Huijsen, Cucurella; Alexander-Arnold, Valverde; Diaz, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.
Inter Milan’s line-up is:
Inter Milan: Martinez; Pavard, Bisseck, Bastoni, Carlos Augusto; Diouf, Jones, Calhanoglu, Barella; Thuram, Lautaro Martinez.
The match will kick off at 21:00 local time in Madrid, which is 19:00 GMT.
Diaz’s inclusion is the main selection talking point before the opening whistle, with the Morocco international entrusted with supporting Real Madrid’s leading attackers in a major European night at Santiago Bernabeu. Inter arrive with their own established attacking partnership and a midfield featuring Barella and Calhanoglu, setting up a contest between two sides beginning their UEFA Champions League league-phase campaigns with strong line-ups.