Real Madrid · Africa Cup of Nations · Attacker · #25 · Côte d'Ivoire · 19 yrs
Champions League: Lille v Betis, Dortmund v VillarrealCarabao Cup: Palace v Middlesbrough, Sunderland v HullLive scores | Read Football Daily | And email DanielInter, meanwhile, look solid. They’ve won three from three in Serie A, and will, I think, look to clutter the centre of the pitch. That’s another reason I’d like to have seen Diomande on from the start, but Mourinho has – unusually for him – done without a defensively-minded midfielder. I’m looking forward to seeing how Curtis Jones does, as I think he’s a good player who’ll thrive with regular selection and greater responsibility. And there’s no disputing the danger Inter offer up front; I don’t fancy either Madrid centre-back against Thuram and Martinez.Our main focus here, though, will be on Madrid v Inter. Mourinho’s men lost at Betis last weekend, and are without the suspended Eduardo Camvinga, Bernardo Silva and Arda Guler. As such Trent Alexander-Arnold comes in on the right of the central three – a move I doubt Aurelien Tchouameni likes all that much. I can’t say I think Alexander-Arnold is much use in that position – as Gary Neville once noted, most right-backs are failed midfielders – but he’s capable of creating something from nothing. I guess I’d quite like to see Yan Diomande on the right, but i’m not surprised Mourinho wants the extra body in midfield that Brahim Diaz can become. Continue reading...
Real Madrid and Inter Milan kick off their 2026–27 UEFA Champions League campaign, and here is all the information you need to watch the match live in the United States. Here are all of the details of where you can watch Real Madrid vs Inter on US television and via legal streaming:WHO: Real Madrid vs InterWHAT: Champions LeagueWHEN: 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT • Tuesday, September 8, 2026WHERE: Paramount+, DAZN, and ViXSTREAM: WATCH NOW Match Overview Real Madrid kicks off its 2026/27 Champions League campaign with a massive test, welcoming Italian champions Inter to the Santiago Bernabéu. Under the leadership of returning manager José Mourinho, Los Blancos are desperate to end a two-year trophy drought and reassert their dominance in Europe. With a perfect start to their domestic season, the pressure is on to translate that form to the continental stage against elite opposition. Inter arrives in Madrid as the reigning Serie A and Coppa Italia winners, a team forged into a disciplined and resilient unit by manager Cristian Chivu. Despite their domestic success, which includes two Champions League final appearances in recent years, the Nerazzurri have a historically poor record on Spanish soil. This opening matchday clash represents a crucial opportunity for Inter to make a statement and prove they can compete with Europe’s very best away from home. Tactical Analysis & Match Context This fixture pits two clubs on different but equally ambitious paths. Real Madrid is in a transitional phase, integrating new signings like Yan Diomande and Bernardo Silva into a squad already brimming with talent. Mourinho’s primary challenge is to find a tactical balance that unleashes the attacking potential of Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham while maintaining defensive structure. Their perfect domestic start has been impressive, but this match is their first true test. In contrast, Inter is a more settled and cohesive side, though they too have strengthened with additions like John Stones and Curtis Jones. Manager Cristian Chivu, a former defender under Mourinho, has instilled a modern, disciplined approach. The tactical battle will likely be a fascinating chess match, with Mourinho’s Real expected to concede possession and strike on the counter, while Chivu’s Inter will aim to control the midfield and suffocate Madrid’s creative players. The motivations for both teams are crystal clear. For Real Madrid, anything less than a victory at home in the Champions League is a disappointment. They are driven to reclaim European glory. For Inter, this is a chance to overcome their struggles in Spain and prove their mettle. A positive result at the Bernabéu would signal their intent to not just compete for, but win, the Champions League title this season. Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends Historically, this has been a one-sided fixture. In 12 meetings, Real Madrid has dominated with seven victories, while Inter has managed only two wins, the last of which came in 1985. The Spanish giants are currently on a seven-game winning streak against their Italian counterparts, underscoring their long-standing superiority in this matchup. Recent encounters tell the same story. Real Madrid has won the last four competitive meetings between the clubs, all taking place in the Champions League group stage since 2020. These victories were decisive, with Madrid showcasing its ability to shut down the Inter attack and capitalize on its opportunities. Key trends from recent history are revealing. Inter has failed to score a single goal in their last three consecutive games against Real Madrid. Furthermore, Los Blancos have secured four wins to nil in the last five clashes. While Inter is a consistent scoring threat in Europe, having found the net in 17 of their last 19 Champions League matches, they will need to break a significant historical barrier to get on the scoresheet in Madrid. Squad News & Projected Lineups Both managers face different challen
The Champions League is packed with unfamiliar talent (Picture: Metro) The Champions League is back tonight with the finest sides on the continent battling it out to become Champions of Europe. The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal and Erling Haaland are expected to take centre stage once again in what promises to be another dramatic season of European football. But there are a whole host of less familiar players who will be hoping to make a name for themselves in Europe’s premier club competition this term. Metro takes a look at 10 players to keep a close eye on in the Champions League this season, from Real Madrid’s £120m signing to Barcelona’s new wonderkid. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. 1. Nico Paz (Como) Paz (Picture: Getty) Como are making their Champions League debut this season and boast one of the most sought-after young players in the world in Paz. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder, who was born in Spain but plays for Argentina, was named as the best midfielder in Serie A last season and will look to continue that form on the European stage this campaign. But while the Italian side will be playing in the Champions League for the first time, Paz will not be, having made three appearances for Real Madrid in the group stage of the 2023/24 edition. 2. Mika Godts (PSG) Godts (Picture: Getty) Godts enjoyed an incredible breakout season at Ajax last year with over 30 goals and assists notched up for the Dutch giants, which convinced PSG to part with almost £50m for his services this summer. Godts is yet to start a game for PSG this season but the 21-year-old will surely be given enough game time in the competition by Luis Enrique to showcase his immense talent to Champions League audiences. Despite his stellar season at Ajax, Godts was remarkably left out of the Belgium squad for the World Cup by the now-departed Rudi Garcia. 3. Konstantinos Karetsas (Borussia Dortmund) Karetsas (Picture: Getty) Very few clubs have an eye for young talent as much as Dortmund, who snapped up Karetsas from Genk last month for just shy of £30m. The attacking midfielder has started both of Dortmund’s Bundesliga games this season and even scored for the German side in their 3-2 victory over Arsenal in pre-season. Karetsas, 18, is the poster boy for a golden generation of Greek football, who have silently produced one of the most promising groups of players in international football. 4. Pio Esposito (Inter) Esposito (Picture: Getty) Esposito has emerged as one of the most rounded young strikers in Europe over the past 12 months. The Italian star scored a modest ten goals for the Nerazzurri last season, but it is his all-round performances which have produced such a hype around the 21-year-old. The likes of Arsenal and Manchester United have been credited with an interest in Esposito, who has recently signed a new six-year deal with the Serie A champions. 5. Yan Diomande (Real Madrid) Diomande (Picture: Getty) The major heavyweights of European football were all circling around Diomande this summer, and it was Real Madrid who emerged victorious with a club-record £120m deal to secure his signature from Leipzig in August. The move to the Bernabeu marks a meteoric rise for the winger, who only joined Leipzig from Leganes last year. The 19-year-old has struggled for game time under Jose Mourinho in the early stages of the campaign, but there is little doubting the talent that the Ivorian possesses. 6. Oskar Pietuszewski (Porto) Pietuszewski (Picture: Getty) Porto would have had high hopes when they signed Pietuszewski from Jagiellonia Bialystok for just £9m back in January, but they surely couldn’t have imagined quite the impact he would go on to make. The Polish star almost instantly cemented his place in the starting XI with a string of age-defying displays on the wing. Pietuszewski, 18, has subsequently been linked with the likes Arsenal, Chel
Real Madrid's headline summer signing, Yan Diomande, has still not started a single match under Jose Mourinho and remains a supersub for now. Is there cause for concern regarding the Ivorian winger?
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