The Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Inter Milan is the most awkward team sheet Jose Mourinho has had to fill since he walked back into the Santiago Bernabeu. Los Blancos open their Champions League campaign at 20:00 UK time on Tuesday with eight players unavailable — and, remarkably, only one recognised senior central midfielder fit and eligible to start.
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Inter Milan
Marca and Managing Madrid arrive at the same XI, which tells you the solution is more or less forced:
Courtois; Dumfries, Konate, Huijsen, Cucurella; Valverde, Bellingham; Brahim, Diomande, Vinicius; Mbappe.
Inter, meanwhile, are expected to line up in Cristian Chivu’s 3-5-2: Martinez; Bisseck, Stones, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Barella, Calhanoglu, Jones, Carlos Augusto; Lautaro, Thuram.
Mourinho’s midfield puzzle
The root of the problem is suspension rather than injury. Arda Guler, Eduardo Camavinga and Bernardo Silva are all banned for the opener, as we set out when the Inter suspensions were confirmed. That leaves captain Federico Valverde as the only senior midfielder Mourinho can name from the first whistle.
The likeliest fix is to drop Jude Bellingham deeper into a double pivot alongside Valverde and rebuild the attacking line in front of them with Brahim Diaz and Yan Diomande either side of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe. Marca floats a more conservative alternative: hand a start to Castilla midfielder Jorge Cestero next to Valverde, keep Bellingham further forward, and simply swap Brahim in for Guler.
Mundo Deportivo sees it differently again, suggesting Trent Alexander-Arnold could step infield next to Valverde with Denzel Dumfries — a former Inter man — reinforcing the right flank. Whichever route Mourinho picks, he is improvising in the one area of the pitch he has spent his whole career protecting.
Three back, one more out
There was some relief on Tuesday morning. Aurelien Tchouameni, Thiago Pitarch and Endrick were all named in a Madrid squad for the first time this season after pre-season injuries, and we covered the full list in our piece on the Real Madrid squad to face Inter. None of the three is expected to start, but a bench with Tchouameni on it is a different bench.
The bad news arrived at the same time. Andriy Lunin missed Monday’s session with flu and drops out, so Mourinho has called up Castilla goalkeepers Sergio Mestre and Javi Navarro behind Thibaut Courtois. Eder Militao, Raul Asencio and Rodrygo remain injured, while Ferland Mendy has not been registered for the competition at all. Defender Mario Rivas completes the youth contingent.
Inter arrive without Dimarco
Real Madrid are not the only side patching things up. Federico Dimarco, voted the best player in Serie A last season, picked up a knee sprain against Napoli on Saturday and has not travelled. He trained with the group on Sunday, but Chivu chose caution and left him at home. Carlos Augusto is the expected replacement on the left of the Inter five.
Even without him, the Nerazzurri come to the Bernabeu in form, having overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Napoli 3-2 and sitting level at the top of Serie A with Roma. Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram carry the threat.
Why tonight matters
Madrid arrive off the back of a 1-0 defeat at Real Betis, the first loss of Mourinho’s second spell and a result that soured an otherwise perfect start. A European night at the Bernabeu is the traditional cure. It is also Mourinho’s Champions League reunion with the club he won the treble with in 2010, and one his old Inter players have spent the build-up talking about.
Kick-off is 21:00 CEST, 20:00 UK, at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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