Champions League line-ups: Real Madrid vs. Inter
Inter start Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram and Curtis Jones, but Federico Dimarco is injured for the Champions League clash with Denzel Dumfries’ decimated Real Madrid.
It kicks off at the Bernabeu in Madrid at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).
This is the opening game of the Champions League for the Italian clubs this season, and is one of special reunions, including between Cristian Chivu and the coach of his 2010 Treble-winning team Jose Mourinho.
Inter do not have a full squad at their disposal after three victories out of three in Serie A, as Dimarco was ruled out by a knee issue in the 3-2 thriller with Napoli.
Djed Spence is also struggling, so Carlos Augusto has to take over on the left, with Andy Diouf preferred to Luis Henrique on the right flank.
Jones gets his first start since the move from Liverpool, but Manuel Akanji and John Stones are both dropped in favour of Benjamin Pavard and Yann Bisseck in defence.
Thuram is back in the initial XI alongside Lautaro Martinez, sending Francesco Pio Esposito to the bench.
Real Madrid suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat away to Real Betis on Friday, where Kylian Mbappé saw his penalty parried.
They have numerous injury problems too, as Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Raul Asencio and Rodrygo are out of action.
On top of that, Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler and Eduardo Camavinga are suspended for the opening Champions League fixture.
Aurelien Tchouameni, Endrick and Thiago Pitarch are only fit for a spot on the bench.
Dumfries faces his former club just months after leaving San Siro, while Brahim Diaz, Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen also have a past in Serie A.
Summer signings Marc Cucurella and Ibrahima Konaté start, with Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Mbappé.
Unusually, it looks as if Trent Alexander-Arnold is going to play in midfield for a 4-2-3-1 formation, leaving €125m buy Yan Diomande on the bench.
Real Madrid vs. Inter line-ups
Real Madrid: Courtois; Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen, Cucurella; Alexander-Arnold, Valverde; Brahim Diaz, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr; Mbappé
Real Madrid bench: Lunin, Sergio Mestre, Endrick, Tchouameni, Carreras, Carlos Espi, Rudiger, Diomande, Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero, Mario Rivas
Inter: Josep Martinez; Pavard, Bisseck, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Calhanoglu, Jones, Carlos Augusto; Thuram, Lautaro Martinez
Inter bench: Di Gennaro, Provedel, Stankovic, Stones, Zielinski, Sucic, Luis Henrique, Bonny, Mkhitaryan, Akanji, Esposito
Ref: Oliver (ENG)
08-09-2026 20:00
MatchDay 1
