Real Madrid awaits Tchouaméni's return against Inter Milan, goalkeeper Lunin doubtful with flu
Real Madrid host Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday in what will be the Champions League debut of the season for both clubs, with coach Jose Mourinho boosted by returning players but facing uncertainty over goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
Champions League debut for both clubs
On Tuesday, September 8, at 21:00 CET, Real Madrid will host Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid. The match marks the opening Champions League fixture of the season for both sides, corresponding to the first matchday of the competition's new format.
Three players return to training
According to Madrid Universal, three players — Aurélien Tchouaméni, Thiago Pitarch and Endrick — rejoined full group training on Sunday after missing more than a month of pre-season sessions. All three trained normally, giving coach Jose Mourinho a welcome boost ahead of the fixture. The source does not specify whether all three will be ready to start the match.
Goalkeeper Lunin's status unclear
According to EFE Latam, goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was absent from the team's final pre-match training session on Monday due to flu. This leaves a question mark over who will start in goal against Inter Milan.
Context — defeat to Betis
Real Madrid suffered a surprise 0-1 defeat to Real Betis in their last outing, their first loss of the season. This has added pressure ahead of the Champions League opener, and one source suggests the result may also have affected the mood in the dressing room.
Experienced referee appointed
UEFA has appointed English referee Michael Oliver to take charge of the match, as reported by Managing Madrid, citing Real Madrid's official website. This will be the sixth time Oliver has officiated a Real Madrid match in European competition. He has previously refereed Real Madrid fixtures against Bayern Munich (1-2) in this year's Champions League quarter-finals, as well as against Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt, Braga and Olympiacos.
Where to watch
The match will be broadcast in Spain on Movistar Liga Campeones, while viewers in the United States can stream it via Paramount+, DAZN and Amazon Prime Video.
