Kylian Mbappé dreams of the big-eared trophy

The Champions League returns on Tuesday, and the opening day brings a meeting loaded with history: Real Madrid faces Inter Milan.

Real Madrid has won the competition and its European Cup predecessor 15 times, most recently in 2024. Inter has lifted the trophy three times, with its latest victory coming in 2010. The match carries an extra edge because José Mourinho, now back as Real Madrid’s coach, won that 2010 title while managing Inter.

Mourinho later moved to Madrid. During his three seasons there, he won one Spanish league title, but other teams celebrated in the Champions League. He was criticized at Real and elsewhere for favoring a defense-first system, a particularly sensitive issue at the Spanish club. Cristiano Ronaldo, then one of Real’s stars and, like Mourinho, Portuguese, ranked among his strongest critics.

Now Kylian Mbappé leads Real’s attack. The French star has achieved success in several competitions, but he has never won the Champions League. Whether Mourinho can bring the trophy back to Madrid under Mbappé’s leadership is the central question surrounding the match.

Preseason assessments favor other teams. Paris Saint-Germain, which has won the title twice in a row, is the leading favorite. Last season’s finalist Arsenal, along with Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Manchester City, is also rated more highly than Real Madrid. That judgment reflects a disappointing previous campaign for Madrid, which ended without a trophy. The club has reshaped the squad in Mourinho’s image, signing Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Yan Diomande and Carlos Espí, players presented as suited to a style built around defense.

Vinícius Júnior also remained at Real Madrid after the summer brought uncertainty over a new contract and a possible move to Arsenal. Against Inter, Real will be without Silva, Arda Güler and Eduardo Camavinga because of suspensions carried over from red cards late last season. Aurélien Tchouaméni is injured, leaving Mourinho to decide who will play in midfield and supply Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham.