Real Madrid held on to beat Inter Milan 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday evening in the opening round of the UEFA Champions League.
The Spanish side established a two-goal lead before half-time and survived sustained pressure from their Italian opponents after the break. Real Madrid were the more clinical team in front of goal, making the most of their opportunities to secure victory despite Inter Milan’s determined response.
Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring after 14 minutes, giving Real Madrid an early advantage on home soil. The forward’s goal set the tone for a first half in which the hosts proved more effective in the decisive moments.
Federico Valverde then doubled Real Madrid’s lead in the 23rd minute. With two goals inside the opening 23 minutes, the home side appeared to have taken control of the match.
Inter Milan, however, did not allow the deficit to change their approach. The Italian club continued to impose its rhythm and remained a threat, even after falling two goals behind. Their pressure ensured Real Madrid could not simply manage the game comfortably.
That pressure eventually produced a goal in the 77th minute, when Carlos Augusto reduced the deficit. The goal transformed the final stages into a tense contest and gave Inter Milan renewed hope of completing a comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid were forced to withstand the pressure created by the visitors in the closing minutes. Inter Milan pushed for an equaliser after Carlos Augusto’s goal, but the hosts managed to protect their narrow advantage until the final whistle.
The result gives Real Madrid a winning start to their UEFA Champions League campaign, while Inter Milan were left to reflect on a match in which their second-half pressure was not enough to overturn the damage caused before the interval.
Real Madrid’s success was built on the contrast between the two halves. Their two goals in the opening period gave them a valuable cushion, while Inter Milan’s response after the break ensured the contest remained uncertain until the end.
The home side ultimately had enough to preserve the 2-1 scoreline. Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde provided the goals that put Real Madrid in front, while Carlos Augusto’s late strike ensured the closing stages remained competitive without changing the outcome.