Real Madrid vs. Inter Milan: Confirmed Starting Lineups for UEFA Champions League

Later on tonight, at 21:00 CEST, Real Madrid will kick off their UEFA Champions League campaign for the 26/27, as they welcome Jose Mourinho's former side Inter Milan to the Bernabeu for match day one of the league phase.

The 63-year old is a bit hamstrung in terms of his selection for this game, with Arda Guler, Eduardo Camavinga and Bernardo Silva all suspended for the game, as well as Ferland Mendy, Raul Asensio and Andriy Lunin all missing through injury. 

With all of that in mind, the boss has opted for the following XI; Courtois; Dumfries, Konate, Huijsen, Cucurella; Alexander-Arnold, Valverde; Diaz, Bellingham, Vinicius, Mbappe. 

So, no room for Diomande, despite the suspension for Guler. There had been talk that Bellingham could move deeper, with Diaz in the 10 and Diomande off the right. However, that is not the case, with Alexander-Arnold playing deeper instead.

Meanwhile, in the opposite dugout, Inter manager Cristian Chivu - who was a key part of Mourinho's Inter side, has gone with the following XI; Martinez; Bissesk, Pavard, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Calhanoglu, Jones, Augusto; Martinez, Thuram. 

There will be a scouse battle in midfield, with Curtis Jones starting for Inter, who has also played with Bellingham for the England national team. 

No doubt this will be a very tough game for the team, particularly with the aforementioned absences. Guler has been a key part of the side this season, his 19 chances created in La Liga this season is the joint most in the league, whilst only two players can better his four big chances created. So far he has kept record signing Yan Diomande out of the team. 

However, to even things out a little, the visitors are without left wing back Federico Dimarco, the teams key offensive weapon. He created 33 big chances in Serie A last season, the most in the entirety of the top five leagues, even more so than Lamine Yamal and Michael Olise. It is a huge benefit to not have to come up against him tonight. 

So, with that considered, and the game being at the Bernabeu under the lights, there is still an expectation that Real Madrid should win this game. This is reflected in the odds too, with Mourinho's side as short as 3/5 to win the game, and Inter as long as 4/1, giving them just a 25% chance of winning the game, so let's wait and see.   

Either way, great to have Champions League nights back at the Bernabeu, and under Mourinho too, for the first time since the semi final 2-0 win at home to Borussia Dortmund back on the 30th April 2013, which was not quite enough to progress to the final at Wembley, after the brutal first leg in Germany.