Magic is often just a step behind when the European lights are turned on at the Santiago Bernabéu. Real Madrid pulled ahead of Inter Milan 2-1 in a Champions League first, full of interesting early flair, tactical brilliance, and clinical finesse. As is often the case on these large European nights, Kylian Mbappé was the main attraction, and he didn’t miss a beat to make a statement for the evening.
Mbappé Sparks the Early Magic
Early on, Inter showed they were intent, putting high pressure on Thibaut Courtois. But with a team such as Real Madrid, it only takes one mistake to get the momentum going. It was not long before an Inter error (in the 14th minute) gave Brahim Díaz the opportunity to dive in and tip a clever pass into Mbappé’s path. The French superstar took a low, accurate finish without hesitation for his time in the bottom corner. His 71st strike in the league was the same number as the legendary Raúl, and it gave Madrid the momentum.
Capitalizing on the Momentum
It took just nine minutes for Mbappé’s ice-cold opener to be followed by two more in quick succession for the visitors. However, the penalty box decision by the central defender of Inter was the stopper that allowed the Spaniard’s Federico Valverde to run in, punch the ball over the bar, and double Madrid’s lead. Given a spring start of 2-0, Los Blancos were in command and the kind of confidence that only comes from back-to-back nights in Europe could give.
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