Real Madrid survive Inter's pressure to open their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win

Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan: Madrid survive Inter's pressure to open their Champions League campaign with a win

The Champions League is back — and it returned with one of those stories that only European football can produce.

On one side, José Mourinho's Real Madrid, strengthened by several new faces and once again looking to take centre stage in Europe. On the other, Cristian Chivu's Inter Milan, the former player of Mourinho himself during the historic 2010 campaign, when the Italians won the “Treble” under the Portuguese manager.

At the Santiago Bernabéu, however, the story began to unfold in a curious way. Inter had more possession, more shots and spent much of the game in the attacking half. Real Madrid, on the other hand, were extremely efficient: they capitalised on the Italian side's mistakes, scored twice in the first half and managed to withstand the pressure to win 2-1 in their Champions League opener.

First half

Inter started the match showing that they had no intention of being intimidated by the weight of the Real Madrid shirt. Just two minutes in, Diouf advanced down the right and delivered a cross into the box. Valverde managed to get a partial block on it, but the ball fell to Thuram, who fired towards goal and forced Courtois into a good save.

The same scenario played out a few minutes later. On 10 minutes, once again down the right, Diouf put the ball into the box and the Madrid defence had to clear for a corner. Inter were pressing, circulating the ball and finding spaces against a Real Madrid side that had yet to find their rhythm.

On 12 minutes, another scare for the home side. Arnold made a mistake with his back-pass, and Lautaro Martínez picked up the ball with room to advance. The Argentine had the option of passing, but chose to shoot instead. Courtois was there once again to keep the ball out.

And then came one of football's oldest rules: when a team fails to take its chances against Real Madrid, it usually pays the price.

On 13 minutes, Inter made a mistake in possession. Brahim Díaz won the ball back and found Mbappé, who finished despite falling to open the scoring for Real Madrid.

It was the first truly decisive attack from the home side.

And it was already a goal.

Inter, who had been the better side during the opening minutes, saw all their dominance punished by a single mistake against a team with players capable of deciding a match in an instant.

The Italian response almost came immediately. On 16 minutes, Çalhanoglu had a dangerous free-kick just outside the box. The Turkish midfielder struck it with power, aiming for Courtois' corner, but the Belgian goalkeeper produced a spectacular save to keep Real Madrid ahead.

On 22 minutes, however, another Inter mistake once again turned their dominance into a two-goal deficit.

Pavard played the ball back to goalkeeper Martínez, who received it under pressure. Valverde closed him down, pressed the goalkeeper and managed to win the ball. It ended up in the back of the net.

2-0 to Real Madrid.

Two defensive mistakes. Two goals.

Inter had more possession, more initiative and had created the better chances up to that point. Real Madrid had something even more valuable: efficiency.

On 25 minutes, Vini Jr. won the ball back, drove forward and cut inside before finding Brahim. The Spaniard laid it off first time for Mbappé, but the Frenchman could not control it and the Italian defence cleared.

Inter continued to try to respond. On 35 minutes, Carlos Augusto found Curtis Jones inside the box. The midfielder controlled the ball, turned and unleashed a powerful effort that went narrowly over Courtois' crossbar.

Deep into stoppage time, on 46 minutes, it was Real Madrid's turn to come close to extending their lead. Inter once again made a mistake in the build-up, Mbappé drove at the defence and managed to get a shot away. Martínez saved it. From the rebound, Bellingham tried again, and the Spanish goalkeeper produced another outstanding intervention.

Half-time arrived with a very clear picture of the match: Inter had the ball, but Real Madrid had the scoreline.

The Italians ended the first half with 70% possession and 11 shots, three of them on target. Madrid had just 30% possession, but managed six shots and four on target.

Second half

Inter returned for the second half looking to turn their territorial dominance into something more tangible. But Real Madrid were also finding space to counter-attack.

Early on, Courtois played a long ball forward to Mbappé. The Frenchman raced forward and tried to finish, but Martínez was there once again to make the save.

On 48 minutes, Curtis Jones tested Courtois again, and the Belgian goalkeeper made another good save.

The Belgian goalkeeper was beginning to become one of the central figures of the match.

On 54 minutes, Lautaro received the ball in a good position and shot. Courtois saved it. From the rebound, the Madrid goalkeeper came up with another save. The assistant referee subsequently raised his flag, but Courtois' two interventions had already highlighted the difficulty Inter were having in getting past the goalkeeper.

On 57 minutes, however, it was Martínez's turn to keep Inter alive.

Brahim made a good move down the right and crossed for Bellingham, who headed towards goal. Martínez managed to recover and produced a spectacular save to deny Real Madrid a third.

The match was beginning to develop into a duel between the two goalkeepers.

On 62 minutes, Bastoni joined the attack and fired a low shot from outside the box. Courtois was positioned perfectly once again and turned it behind for a corner.

At the other end, Real continued to create opportunities. On 66 minutes, Brahim crossed into the middle and Mbappé fired a low shot, but Martínez was there once again to keep him out.

Two minutes later, Vini Jr. found Mbappé, who played it to Brahim. The Spaniard shot and the ball went narrowly wide.

The third Madrid goal seemed only a matter of time.

But Inter were still alive.

On 76 minutes, Bisseck found Lautaro Martínez on the right, and the Argentine sent a low cross into the box. Carlos Augusto arrived in the right position and finished into the net.

Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan.

Suddenly, everything was back on the line.

Real Madrid had wasted opportunities to kill the game off, and Inter found their goal just when the hosts appeared most vulnerable. What had looked for much of the second half like a match heading towards a third Madrid goal was now turning into a tense finale.

The Italian side began to believe again.

On 89 minutes, Inter built another good move on the edge of the box. The ball was worked around before reaching Mkhitaryan, who shot. The effort took a deflection off the defence and changed direction, but Courtois was there once again to save Real Madrid.

It was the last major intervention of a night in which the Belgian goalkeeper was crucial.

The final whistle confirmed Real Madrid's 2-1 victory.

What remains

The result sends a very clear message about Mourinho's new Real Madrid: this was not a victory built on dominating the match, but on their ability to survive, capitalise on their opponent's mistakes and make the difference at the right moments.

Inter finished the match with 64% possession and 21 shots, seven of them on target. Real Madrid had just 36% possession, but managed 16 shots and eight on target.

The difference was efficiency.

The Italians had more of the ball and applied pressure for much of the match, but made two serious defensive mistakes in the first half. Against Mbappé, Brahim, Vini Jr. and company, two mistakes were enough to put Madrid 2-0 ahead.

And when Inter finally managed to turn their pressure into a goal, Real had already built a big enough cushion to manage the closing stages.

It is also impossible to overlook Courtois' performance. The Belgian goalkeeper made decisive saves from the opening minutes and finished the match as one of the main reasons Real Madrid left the Bernabéu with all three points.

Inter, meanwhile, leave Spain with the feeling that they could have taken more from the game. Chivu's side showed personality, controlled the territory and generated plenty of attacking volume, but paid the price for their mistakes in possession and their difficulty in turning dominance into goals.

And there is something particularly symbolic about this duel.

Chivu, who was crowned European champion under Mourinho in 2010, now begins his own Champions League story by facing the very manager with whom he shared that historic moment. This time, however, the experience came out on top.

In the end, Real Madrid begin their European campaign with three points and a victory that perhaps says as much about the team's efficiency as it does about their ability to suffer.

Inter leave defeated, but not outplayed.

And Real Madrid, once again, show why they remain such a dangerous team in the Champions League: sometimes, you don't need to control the game to control the result.