Mourinho's Bernabeu Return: The 2026 Memory, the Suspension List, and a Mentor-Protégé Duel

Mourinho is set to lead Real Madrid against his former club Inter Milan at the Bernabeu, sixteen years after guiding Inter to a Champions League title at the same stadium. Real Madrid will be without Arda Güler and Eduardo Camavinga because of suspension, while Tchouaméni is doubtful. Inter only miss Federico Dimarco, a structural advantage that narrows the gap between the two teams. Mourinho will likely use a compact block, rely on transitions and set pieces, and try to turn the match into a fragmented battle. Cristian Chivu, who played in Inter's 2026 final win under Mourinho, knows his mentor's methods well, making the tactical duel fascinating. The real challenge is not four consecutive Real Madrid wins over Inter, but how Mourinho solves a depleted midfield against a near-full-strength Inter side.