Real Madrid are weakened in midfield, while Inter have found their rhythm: Real Madrid vs Inter prediction
The opening-round Champions League match between Real Madrid and Inter will take place on 8 September at the Santiago Bernabéu. The Madrid side head into the game after their first defeat of the season, while the Italians have won all three of their opening Serie A matches.
Real Madrid: powerful attack and major personnel losses
José Mourinho's side began the league campaign with three consecutive victories over Espanyol, Real Sociedad and Malaga, but then lost 1-0 to Betis. In that match, Kylian Mbappé missed a penalty and the team failed to score for the first time this season.
Ahead of their Champions League opener, Madrid's problems are particularly noticeable in midfield. Camavinga, Güler and Bernardo Silva are suspended, while Tchouaméni is unlikely to be fit enough to start.
Inter: three wins and a strong start in Serie A
Cristian Chivu's side have won all three of their league matches, beating Monza 4-1, Cagliari 1-0 and Napoli 3-2. In the latest fixture, Lautaro Martínez scored the winning goal deep into stoppage time.
However, this Inter side do not look quite as reliable defensively as they did a few seasons ago. Federico Dimarco will also be unavailable after suffering a knee injury.
Probable line-ups
- Real Madrid: Courtois, Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen, Cucurella, Bellingham, Valverde, Diomande, Díaz, Vinícius Júnior, Mbappé.
- Inter: Martínez, Bastoni, Bisseck, Akanji, Diouf, Barella, Jones, Çalhanoğlu, Augusto, Martínez, Thuram.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Real Madrid have won 17 of their last 19 opening-round Champions League matches.
- Inter have taken nine points from a possible nine in Serie A.
- The Milan side have lost their last four matches against Real Madrid, failing to score in three of them.
The match could be an open contest: Real Madrid vs Inter prediction
Inter have a rare opportunity to take advantage of Madrid's weakened midfield, especially if the visitors can impose a high tempo. At the same time, the Italians' own defence does not look flawless either.
Real Madrid have enough individual quality in attack to respond even in a difficult match. Therefore, a high-scoring draw in which both teams regularly create chances looks like the most logical outcome.
