Real Madrid defy Bernabeu logic in 2-1 win over Inter

Real Madrid and logic don’t tend to go together when it comes to Champions League nights at the Bernabeu. The Spanish club’s famous ground has seen more than its fair share of illustrious European comebacks — matches that have flown fully against the run of play, with Madrid emerging victorious despite being clearly outperformed.

Tuesday night’s Champions League opener against Inter was not a remontada, but Madrid still defied logic to win. There were also several other moments within the game that, to the casual observer, wouldn’t have made sense. Why, for example, with your team 2-0 up against last season’s Serie A champions, would fans jeer and whistle? Why would one of your best players, Vinicius Junior, be singled out for particular criticism?

Goals against the run of play

In truth, it was far from a classic performance. Goals from Kylian Mbappe — against the run of play — and midfielder Federico Valverde — profiting from a defensive error — put the hosts into what should have become a comfortable lead before the break, but they failed to kick on from there. There was no comfort or control.

Inter seriously threatened Madrid’s fragile-looking back line. The second half especially was a full-blown, end-to-end game, which left them increasingly split between defence and attack, with seemingly little co-ordination. It frustrated the fans, and it frustrated manager Jose Mourinho, who left his technical area on three separate occasions to scream at his side.

Mourinho, taking charge of his first Champions League game since returning to Madrid this summer, and taking on the team with whom he won a European treble in 2009-10, suffered far more than he would have liked. Still, he put something of a positive spin on things.

“It could have ended 5-1 or 6-1 for us, or it could have ended 6-6,” Mourinho said in his post-match press conference. “There were so many chances in the second half. It was a crazy game, madness, and that is something I don’t like.”

Whistles at Bernabeu

Madrid’s supporters did not like it either. They whistled their players for the first time this campaign. This is not an entirely irregular occurrence; it took place on many occasions last term and speaks to the extremely high expectations fans have. Madrid have not won a major trophy for two consecutive seasons — and that is a big deal here.

Asked about the reaction from the stands, Mourinho said: “I don’t comment on reactions from the crowd. I won’t do it today and I never will.”

At the start of the game, for the first time this term, and perhaps matching the excitement of the occasion, the Bernabeu actually finally felt like it was fully switched on. The crowd particularly supported the intensity with which Mourinho’s players pressed — something they have done well in the early weeks of La Liga, too.

But as the game progressed, the atmosphere changed. After last Friday’s 1-0 defeat by Real Betis — their first loss of the new season — it once again hinted at the regular tensions felt at the ground last season. This intensified after Inter deservedly clawed one back, Carlos Augusto reducing the deficit in the 77th minute. After that, the atmosphere collapsed.

Madrid supporters were increasingly turning on the players and the game appeared to be pointing towards an Inter comeback. When Trent Alexander-Arnold — played in midfield, where Madrid had three players out through suspension and others were not fully fit — was replaced in the 79th minute, he went off to a chorus of whistles. The 27-year-old was given a tough task in a makeshift line-up but lost two important balls in possession and, like all of his team-mates, struggled to bring the control Madrid needed after taking the lead.

After the game, Mourinho said he appreciated “the effort he has made for the team”, adding: “He is not a midfield player. Because of the intensity, it is very difficult for him in that position. He is a more positional full-back.”

Vinicius Jr under fire

By now, Vinicius Jr was also struggling for energy and had become increasingly imprecise in possession. He was met by loud jeers from the Bernabeu at various points throughout the match, but the loudest came when he was replaced by left-back Alvaro Carreras in the 86th minute.

During the protracted contract renewal negotiations that also saw Arsenal make a strong move towards signing Vinicius Jr, some Madrid fans favoured the idea of selling the 26-year-old this summer. On this evidence, he has some work to do to win them over.

“I know it, we all know it, he knows it: he is not sharp yet,” Mourinho said of the Brazilian. “He is not the Vinicius Jr who kills you one-on-one, but he works hard and deserves respect.”

Sources within the coaching staff, speaking anonymously as they did not have permission to comment, say they are very pleased with Vinicius Jr’s attitude, as well as that of the other forwards. Among those staff sources, there was also some surprise at the level of the jeering given the circumstances. Madrid were missing three players through injury, had three more returning from injury and were also without three through suspension. Against a strong Inter side, there was a feeling that the three points deserved more credit.

Courtois decisive

In the end, as on many occasions last term, the key player for Madrid was not an attacker but their goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian made seven saves in total, the last to deny Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the 89th minute, preserving Madrid’s lead when Inter were pushing hardest for an equaliser.

That was the difference, in the end. Courtois coming to the rescue is another theme of Madrid’s famous European nights. On Tuesday, it gave Mourinho the winning start he wanted, but if this was supposed to be the beginning of a new era, his imprint was difficult to see.