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Following the final whistle of Real Madrid's 2–1 victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday night, captain Federico Valverde remarked, "We suffered a lot, which shouldn't happen, especially at home."
Los Blancos made a comfortable start in their league phase opener. By the 23rd minute, José Mourinho's side were ahead 2–0 courtesy of goals from Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde, both stemming from costly Inter errors.
However, the scoreline masked the true story of the match, particularly as time wore on. Real Madrid were profligate in attack, fragile defensively, and inconsistent through the middle. The momentum swung firmly toward the visitors once they pulled a goal back late on, but the hosts clung on desperately and claimed all three points.
The men in white will focus solely on the result, but Mourinho will be revisiting certain moments and concerns repeatedly as he looks to restore Real Madrid to their peak form.
Real Madrid's Attack Sputters ... Again
It is becoming a familiar pattern for Real Madrid's star-laden attack to look toothless in front of goal. Over the weekend, the team carved out seven big chances and failed to score in a stunning defeat to Real Betis.
On Tuesday against Inter, Los Blancos generated eight big chances and converted just two goals — both of which were essentially handed to them by the opposition. Mbappé squandered two golden opportunities, as did Jude Bellingham. Brahim Díaz added to the misery when he could only bury his face in his hands after dragging a clear chance wide.
Many of last season's struggles were rooted in a lack of creativity from the midfield, which hampered the team's attacking output. Now, however, Mourinho's men are generating the chances — they simply cannot convert them.
It is a glaring issue in the early stages of the 2026–27 campaign for the 15-time European champions, one that has already cost them three points in La Liga and could have denied them victory in the Champions League had Thibaut Courtois not produced a heroic display.
Thibaut Courtois Bails Out an Uninspiring Defense
Whenever Real Madrid require a standout Champions League performance, Courtois delivers. The Belgian may not be the leading contender for the Yashin Trophy, largely due to his lack of silverware last season, but that does little to diminish his status as one of the finest goalkeepers on the planet.
Courtois produced seven saves against Inter, keeping the visitors at bay until they finally broke through in the 77th minute. It was a goal that had felt inevitable, given how shaky Los Blancos' backline had appeared throughout the contest.
There are numerous defensive lapses to scrutinize for Mourinho's back four. Denzel Dumfries was caught out by Carlos Augusto as the Brazilian advanced to score; Marc Cucurella relied on Vinícius Júnior to help cover the left flank; Ibrahima Konaté repeatedly found himself out of position at crucial moments.
Compounding the issues was how passive Real Madrid were off the ball. The Spanish giants were repeatedly static, applying such a minimal press that Inter enjoyed vast amounts of space to exploit. It was far too simple to be exposed defensively because Real Madrid made it far too straightforward for Inter to retain possession and manufacture opportunities.
It did not prove costly on Tuesday, but it will against a more formidable opponent down the line if a better balance is not found.
What Does the Future Hold for Trent Alexander-Arnold?
Trent Alexander-Arnold was selected alongside Valverde in Mourinho's double pivot on Tuesday, stepping into Real Madrid's XI in the absence of the suspended Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler, and Bernardo Silva. It was only the England international's second start of the season, having lost the battle with Dumfries for the starting right back berth.
It was far from a standout showing from Alexander-Arnold. He was caught out of position defensively on multiple occasions. He never appeared fully at ease dropping back into his own box, seemingly uncertain of where to station himself — something that was evident during Inter's only goal. On top of that, Real Madrid saw so little of the ball that he had limited opportunity to showcase his range of passing.
Alexander-Arnold was composed in possession and created two chances — one of which Mbappé should have comfortably finished. But it likely was not enough to significantly boost his standing in Mourinho's eyes.
So where does Alexander-Arnold go from here? He will surely not be content playing second fiddle to Dumfries throughout the season. And opportunities for midfield starts will be scarce. It is not entirely inconceivable that the fullback could choose to depart the Bernabéu far sooner than anticipated if he cannot turn his fortunes around this season.