Real Madrid faced Inter Milan this Tuesday in the opening round of the Champions League. Despite securing a 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu, Los Blancos were made to suffer against an ambitious Italian side. Here are the ratings awarded by our editorial team to the Real Madrid players.
⭐️ Thibaut Courtois: 9/10
Simply stratospheric and heroic. The Belgian goalkeeper was undoubtedly the main reason Real Madrid came away with the victory. Courtois produced a series of crucial saves throughout the game and prevented Inter from getting back into the match on several occasions. Without him, the final result could have been very different.
Denzel Dumfries: 6/10
The Dutchman rarely ventured forward, instead focusing primarily on his defensive duties. Given the pressure applied by Inter, that was probably the right approach. Overall, he was disciplined and delivered a decent performance without really standing out.
Dean Huijsen: 7/10
Another solid display from the young defender. Huijsen continues his excellent start to the season thanks to his reading of the game, anticipation and strength in duels. On a difficult night for Real Madrid’s defence, he was one of the most reassuring performers.
Ibrahima Konaté: 6/10
The Frenchman formed a fairly convincing centre-back partnership with Huijsen. He did not make any major individual mistakes, although Real Madrid allowed far too many chances. A respectable performance in difficult circumstances.
Marc Cucurella: 5/10
A mixed performance from the Spaniard. Inter found plenty of space down his side, and the Italian side’s goal also came from his area of the pitch. He did not provide enough going forward to make up for his defensive struggles.
Federico Valverde: 5/10
He scored Real Madrid’s second goal after some excellent pressing and also made a few important defensive recoveries. However, overall, the Uruguayan failed to impose himself enough in midfield, and his performance remained rather average.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 2/10
A night to forget. Deployed in midfield, the Englishman never looked comfortable. He struggled badly with his positioning, intensity and even his technical execution. Expected to bring control and quality in possession, Trent completely missed the mark.
Jude Bellingham: 5/10
The Englishman worked hard and never shied away from the physical battle. However, he lacked precision in the final third and gave the ball away too often. A performance that was far too messy for a player of his quality.
Brahim Diaz: 4/10
He produced one brilliant individual move in the second half, but there was very little else to remember from his performance. Brahim struggled to make a real difference and failed to consistently trouble the Inter defence.
Vinicius Junior: 4.5/10
The Brazilian showed plenty of effort and produced a few dangerous bursts, particularly in the first half. However, his overall attacking influence remained far too limited. Just as in the opening games of the season, much more is expected from him.
Kylian Mbappé: 5.5/10
The Frenchman opened the scoring but could have caused Inter far more damage. Mbappé had several excellent opportunities but failed to convert them. An important goal, but his finishing still leaves plenty of room for improvement.
José Mourinho: 4/10
Missing several midfielders, Mourinho took a gamble with a completely reshaped setup. It clearly did not work. Real Madrid suffered badly throughout the match, while the Portuguese coach also waited far too long to make his substitutions. The victory is there, but in terms of performance, Madrid can thank Courtois and will be concerned by what was a very worrying collective display.
| Player | Rating | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Thibaut Courtois | 9/10 | Heroic, Man of the Match |
| Denzel Dumfries | 6/10 | Solid defensively |
| Dean Huijsen | 7/10 | Strong and reassuring |
| Ibrahima Konaté | 6/10 | Decent overall |
| Marc Cucurella | 5/10 | A mixed performance |
| Federico Valverde | 5/10 | Scored, but an average display |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | 2/10 | Completely overwhelmed |
| Jude Bellingham | 5/10 | Too many mistakes |
| Brahim Diaz | 4/10 | Not influential enough |
| Vinicius Junior | 4.5/10 | Disappointing again |
| Kylian Mbappé | 5.5/10 | Scored, but missed too much |
| José Mourinho | 4/10 | Unconvincing tactical choices |
Man of the Match: Thibaut Courtois (9/10)
Flop of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold (2/10)
🚨 Fede Valverde : "Les fans ont 100% RAISON de nous SIFFLER." ✅‼️
— RMadrid actu 🇫🇷 (@RMadrid_actu) September 8, 2026
"On doit être MEILLEURS." pic.twitter.com/14tiBuyuAf
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