Real Madrid opened their latest UEFA Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Inter, surviving a strong second-half fightback to claim the points.
Inter started aggressively, pressing high and looking to control the tempo. Madrid, however, struck first in the 14th minute when Kylian Mbappé found the breakthrough.
Just nine minutes later, Madrid doubled their advantage in bizarre fashion. Inter goalkeeper J. Martínez received a routine back pass from Benjamin Pavard but hesitated instead of clearing the danger.
As Federico Valverde closed him down, Martínez attempted to dribble out of trouble. Valverde read the move perfectly, won possession and calmly rolled the ball into the empty net to make it 2-0.
Inter Fight Back
Despite falling two goals behind, Inter refused to disappear from the contest. They enjoyed 64% possession and repeatedly tested Thibaut Courtois, who produced several important saves to keep Madrid ahead.
Inter eventually got their reward in the 77th minute when Augusto converted a well-created opportunity from a Lautaro Martínez pass.
The Italian side pushed for an equaliser late on, but Madrid’s defence held firm. With Vinícius Júnior and Brahim Díaz providing an attacking threat on the counter, the hosts managed the closing stages and secured a 2-1 win.
For Inter, it was a spirited performance undone by a costly mistake. For Madrid, it was three points and a winning start to their European campaign.
Main Image: The Sun
