The biggest club competition in Europe is back, and it is wasting absolutely no time giving us what we want.
The UEFA Champions League kicks off its new campaign on Tuesday, September 8, with none other than Real Madrid vs. Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu.
And before we get into the game, can we talk about something?
Champions League football on a Thursday?
Yes, this matchup is on Tuesday, but Matchday 1 will be played across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday Champions League is not something we get every week, and honestly, we’re not complaining. If UEFA wants to give us more Champions League during the week, we will gladly accept the football overdose.
But Tuesday belongs to Madrid and Inter.
Two European giants. Two former champions. One Bernabéu. And enough star power to make this feel less like Matchday 1 and more like someone accidentally scheduled a semifinal.
On one side: Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Jr. and Jude Bellingham.
On the other: Lautaro Martínez, Marcus Thuram and Hakan Çalhanoğlu.
On paper, Real Madrid have the bigger names and perhaps the more frightening attack. But Inter, now led by Christian Chivu, have something Madrid will have to deal with: a defensive structure that is about as interested in giving you space as a bouncer is in letting you into a nightclub without ID.
The Mbappé Factor
The French superstar was asked about the criticism surrounding his defensive work and his willingness to contribute to the team. His response? Well, classic Mbappé.
“I have made a lot of history in the most important competition in the sport; it is a good year to win the Ballon d’Or,” he said before addressing the comparisons with other forwards. “Only Vinícius and me?”
Mbappé acknowledged that Real Madrid still have areas to improve, but also made it clear that comparing players is a dangerous game. “I can play dumb and say that I score more goals than Dembélé and Raphinha, and that they need to score more goals to be like me,” he joked.
Instead, Mbappé argued that he prefers to focus on what he brings to the team rather than turning football into an endless statistical debate.
And then came the inevitable question. José Mourinho recently said he would rather have a Mbappé who scores 40 goals and wins trophies than one who scores 60 and wins nothing. Would Mbappé take that deal?
“No… I’ll take less too! Thirty with trophies,” he said with a laugh. Honestly, fair enough.
Mbappé added that if he reaches 40 goals while Real Madrid are competing for La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, he isn’t exactly going to stop scoring just to make the critics happy.
And he’s got a point. Apparently, the solution to winning trophies is not to score fewer goals. Revolutionary stuff.
Real Madrid looking to bounce back
Real Madrid enter their European campaign after suffering a 1-0 defeat against Real Betis in La Liga, a result that put a small dent in what had previously been a strong run of victories.
The Champions League, however, offers the perfect opportunity to hit the reset button. There is no better stage for Madrid to remind everyone why they remain one of the favorites to win the competition.
Mourinho’s team will have to do it without several players, however. Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler and Bernardo Silva are all carrying red card suspensions from last season. Long-term injuries have sidelined Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão and Raúl Ascencio. On the doubtful list: Aurélien Tchouaméni , Thiago Pitarch and Endrick.
So, naturally, the solution is probably to just put Mbappé, Vinícius and Bellingham on the field and hope for the best.
Inter arrive in confident mood
Inter, meanwhile, come into the match with momentum.
The Nerazzurri defeated Napoli 3-2 in Serie A, maintaining a perfect start to their official campaign. Chivu’s side will arrive in Madrid knowing that they probably won’t win the battle of the celebrity names, but football has never been decided by the number of Instagram followers in the starting XI.
Inter’s defensive organization could be crucial against a Real Madrid attack capable of turning one mistake into a goal before you have even finished complaining about the mistake.
And then there is the Mourinho subplot. José spent two seasons in Milan, winning the Serie A title twice and leading them to a historic treble in the 2009/10 season. He then left to join (who else?) Real Madrid for the first time. Because apparently a Champions League opener between Real Madrid and Inter wasn’t dramatic enough already.
History and statistics: a modern European classic
The rivalry between Real Madrid and Inter dates back decades, including the famous 1964 European Cup final, when Inter defeated the Spanish giants.
More recently, however, Madrid have had the upper hand.
In their meetings during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 Champions League seasons, Real Madrid won four consecutive matches against Inter, including victories of 2-0 and 1-0 during the 2021/22 campaign.
So, historically, Madrid have reasons to feel confident. Inter, meanwhile, have reasons to ignore history completely. After all, history doesn’t defend corners.
Where to watch
United States: 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT
Streaming: Paramount+ and DAZN USA
Projected lineups
Real Madrid:
Thibaut Courtois;
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, Dean Huijsen, Marc Cucurella;
Brahim Díaz, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde;
Yan Diomande, Vinícius Jr., Kylian Mbappé
Inter Milan:
Josep Martínez;
Benjamin Pavard, Manuel Akanji, Alessandro Bastoni;
Luis Henrique, Nicolò Barella, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Petar Sučić, Carlos Augusto; Lautaro Martínez, Marcus Thuram.
Hooligan Pick
What better way to start a new Champions League campaign than with two giants looking at each other and deciding, “You go first.”
Real Madrid have the firepower, the home crowd and enough attacking talent to make any defense question its career choices.
Inter, meanwhile, have the structure, the discipline and the kind of defensive organization that can turn a football match into a group therapy session for opposing forwards.
Neither team will want to start the Champions League with a defeat, which could make this a fascinating battle between attacking ambition and defensive caution. We expect both sides to land a punch, but neither to deliver the knockout blow.
Final prediction: Real Madrid 1-1 Inter.
And if Mbappé scores 40 goals and wins the Champions League anyway, Mourinho might have to update his PowerPoint.
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Alejandro Orellana is an accomplished sports journalist based in Mexico City, known for his incisive coverage of Club América and the Mexican National Team. A graduate of Journalism from Escuela de Periodismo Carlos Septien García, Alejandro brings a deep understanding of sports media to his work. His expertise extends to SEO and content creation, allowing him to produce engaging and discoverable sports narratives. He has contributed as a freelance writer for Goal.com, where he notably conducted interviews with MLS players, further showcasing his comprehensive interviewing skills. Prior to this, Alejandro dedicated five years to ESPN’s production department, contributing to renowned shows including SportsCenter, Futbol Picante, and NFL Live. His insightful articles can be found on platforms such as Deportrece and Hooligan Soccer. Connect with Alejandro on @soyalexorellana and Tik Tok to stay updated with his latest work. His commitment to journalistic integrity ensures every piece offers valuable and trustworthy insights for sports enthusiasts.
