Champions League Matchday 1: Real Madrid vs Inter facts

Matchday 1 of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League brings a heavyweight contest at the Santiago Bernabéu, where two former European champions meet as Real Madrid welcome Inter Milan.

Previous meetings

The sides have met 19 times, Madrid winning ten – including eight of the nine home fixtures (L1) – to Inter's seven and scoring 28 goals against their Italian opponents' 21.

Madrid have won six of the last seven matches between the sides (L1) and all of the last four, including 1-0 in Milan and 2-0 in Madrid in the 2021/22 group stage.

Madrid have won their last seven home games against Inter, keeping four clean sheets.

Overall Madrid have won 19 of their last 21 matches against Italian clubs (L2), including 1-0 at home to Juventus on Matchday 3 last season.

Inter are without a win in 13 away matches against Spanish sides (D4 L9), since a 5-1 victory at Valencia in the 2004/05 group stage.

The Nerazzurri's last visit ended in a 2-1 loss at Madrid's neighbours Atleti on Matchday 5 last season, making it five wins in their last 27 games against Liga clubs, home and away (D8 L14).

Inter won their third European Cup at the Bernabéu, beating Bayern München 2-0 in the 2010 final under José Mourinho, who left to take over at Real Madrid after that final and returned for a second spell in charge of the Spanish club this summer.

Form guide

Real Madrid

Madrid are in the Champions League proper for the 31st time, a competition record they share with Barcelona. They last missed out in 1996/97 and have qualified for the knockout rounds in all 30 campaigns. This is their 57th season of European Cup football.

In 2025/26 Madrid were 11th in the league phase (W5 L3), beating Benfica (3-1 aggregate) and Manchester City (5-1) in the knockout phase before losing in the quarter-finals against Bayern (4-6).

Inter

This is the Nerazzurri's 20th appearance in the Champions League and a ninth in succession.

Champions League runners-up in 2023 and 2025, Inter were tenth in the 2025/26 league phase (W5 L3), losing to debutants Bodø/Glimt in the knockout phase play-offs (1-3 a, 1-2 h).

Last season's 2-0 victory at Ajax was only the Milan club's third in their last 14 Matchday 1 fixtures (D7 L4) and a first since beating Tottenham 2-1 at home in September 2018.

Links and trivia

Mourinho was Inter coach from 2008 to 2010, winning Serie A in both seasons and adding the Coppa Italia and Champions League in his second before departing for Madrid.

Madrid have won on Matchday 1 in 17 of their last 19 campaigns (L2), beating Marseille 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu last season.

The Merengues have won 14 of their last 16 home games in the group stage/league phase (L2).

None of Madrid's last 67 matches at this stage finished goalless, since a 0-0 draw at Paris Saint-Germain in October 2015.

Madrid's last 18 group stage/league phase matches have produced 76 goals, an average of 4.2 per game.

Inter have lost five of their last six Champions League matches (W1).

However, the Milan club have won four of their last five away league phase matches (L1), keeping a clean sheet in each victory.

The Nerazzurri have suffered only four defeats in their last 22 games at this stage (W14 D4).

None of Inter's last 15 league phase matches finished in a draw (W11 L4).

Inter have failed to score in only two of their last 19 Champions League matches and have kept 12 clean sheets in their last 17 group stage/league phase games.