Real Madrid vs Inter predictions and betting tips | Mourinho faces former employers

Our Real Madrid vs Inter predictions look at various factors as Jose Mourinho gets ready to take charge of a club with whom he won the Champions League in 2010.

Real Madrid vs Inter head to head overview

• Date: Tuesday 8th September.
• Kick-off: 8pm.
• Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain.
• Where to watch: TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports 5.

Real Madrid vs Inter quick tips

• Real Madrid to win and over 2.5 goals – 11/10 with Midnite
• Both teams to score – 4/6 with 247Bet
• Jude Bellingham to score any time – 2/1 with bet365

Real Madrid vs Inter predictions

One of Jose Mourinho’s greatest ever managerial achievements came when he was calling the shots at Inter.

The Portuguese led the Italian giants to a historic treble in 2009/10, winning Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League.

Inter have reached two finals since then, in 2023 and 2025, but they came unstuck on both occasions. Now, on matchday one of the current campaign, they face their former boss Mourinho, who returned to Real Madrid over the summer.

It was, in many ways, a strange appointment from Madrid. After all, Mourinho has not managed a top-tier club since he left Manchester United in 2018.

Yet it has long felt like Florentino Perez was waiting for the right moment to bring the confrontational disciplinarian – a man who could teach Machiavelli a trick or two – back to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. Expect the unexpected – and fireworks.

Madrid suffered their first defeat of Mourinho’s second spell on Friday, as they went down 1-0 to Real Betis despite dominating the encounter. Greater efficiency is required when Inter come to town this week. 

The Serie A champions would probably be happy with a point, but that does not mean they will play for one.

Real Madrid vs Inter tips

Two of Europe’s heavyweight clubs go head-to-head in Madrid on Tuesday night.

Who will win?

No club in the history of the Champions League has ever been as successful as Real Madrid, who have lifted the trophy 15 times.

That makes them more than twice as successful as the next-best side in the all-time rankings, AC Milan with seven victories.

Yet Madrid have exited the competition in the quarter-finals in the last two campaigns, so they are under pressure to return to the latter stages in 2026/27.

They can kick-start their quest for a 16th crown with a victory over Inter, although the visitors will not simply sit back and take their medicine.

Tip Real Madrid to win and over 2.5 goals at 11/10 with Midnite

Inter can strike

Inter won the Serie A title by an 11-point margin last season. They rose to the top of the table just before Christmas and remained there until the end of the campaign.

However, it was a disappointing year in Europe for the Nerazzurri, who crashed out at the hands of Bodo/Glimt.

On the plus side, Inter scored in nine of their 10 Champions League fixtures in Cristian Chivu’s debut campaign in the dugout.

Inter scored three times against Napoli at the weekend, and they will back themselves to find the back of the net against Real Madrid.

Go for both teams to score at 4/6 with 247Bet

Bellingham to bag?

Jude Bellingham was one of the standout performers at World Cup 2026 and he has impressed in the early weeks of the new domestic season.

Jose Mourinho is using Bellingham in an attacking midfield behind Kylian Mbappe, a position from which the England international frequently gets into dangerous positions.

Bellingham scored twice in his first three appearances of 2026/27, and he will be a thorn in the side of Inter on Tuesday.

The former Borussia Dortmund man is our pick to make the net bulge at the Bernabeu.

Back Jude Bellingham to score any time at 2/1 with bet365

Real Madrid vs Inter predicted lineups

• Real Madrid expected lineup: Courtois; Dumfries, Konate, Huijsen, Cucurella; Tchouameni, Valverde; Diomande, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.
• Inter expected lineup: J. Martinez; Bastoni, Bisseck, Akanji; Diouf, Barella, Jones, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; L. Martinez, Thuram.

Real Madrid vs Inter latest odds

Find the latest Real Madrid vs Inter betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

• Real Madrid: 4/7 with Midnite
• Draw: 13/4 with 247Bet
• Inter: 7/2 with bet365

More Champions League predictions

We have plenty more Champions League predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

Important historical facts about Real Madrid vs Inter for betting

Real Madrid have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning five of their last six games against Inter. They met on matchday one in 2021, when a late Rodrygo goal gave Real Madrid a 1-0 victory at San Siro.

• Last meeting: 7th December 2021; Real Madrid 2-0 Inter.
• Last 6 matches: Real Madrid wins – 5; Inter wins – 1; Draws – 0.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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