Real Madrid Dominates Inter as Mbappé Scores Early

Real Madrid did not wait long to seize control at the Santiago Bernabéu. By the 14th minute, the tone of this Champions League league-phase clash with Inter was already set.

Kylian Mbappé, sharp and ruthless, delivered the first blow. Brahim Diaz sliced open the visiting defence with a precise, incisive pass, and the French forward needed no second invitation. He timed his run, met the ball cleanly and turned it home, putting Los Blancos in front and igniting the home crowd.

Inter tried to respond by sticking to their principles, building from the back, refusing to panic. That bravery turned into calamity nine minutes later.

As the Italians attempted to play out in the 23rd minute, a routine passage of possession collapsed into chaos. A pass was controlled directly in front of goal by Lautaro Martínez, with danger lurking. Federico Valverde read it instantly and surged in, closing him down with real aggression.

The Madrid midfielder’s press was perfectly executed. He nicked the ball away and, with the Inter goalkeeper stranded, watched it roll straight into the net. No deflection, no scramble. Just a simple, brutal punishment for hesitation at the back and a 2-0 lead for the Spanish giants.

From there, the picture was clear. Madrid, already in command, could manage the tempo and pick their moments, while Inter stared at the prospect of a long night in the Spanish capital. The Nerazzurri now need something close to a miracle: a drastic tactical rethink, a surge of belief, and flawless execution to drag themselves back into a contest that has slipped away alarmingly fast.

They are not just chasing goals at the Bernabéu. They are chasing the right to stay alive in this phase of Europe’s biggest stage.