Inter arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu with real momentum, sitting second in Serie A on nine points after three games, and carrying the confidence of one of the most dramatic results of the Italian season so far. The 3-2 comeback win over Napoli at San Siro was a statement of character, with Lautaro Martinez scoring twice, including a 91st-minute winner, and Marcus Thuram coming off the bench to turn the game. It was the kind of result that told rivals the defending champions will not surrender their position without a fight.

The win came at a cost, though. Federico Dimarco limped off during the second half with a knee problem and, as confirmed by multiple reports, will not be included in the squad for Tuesday's Champions League opener. Carlos Augusto is set to fill in on the left, with Cristian Chivu also considering Luis Henrique as a starter on the right flank. John Stones and Curtis Jones could both feature from the beginning, according to team news coverage, giving the lineup a slightly unfamiliar look for such a high-profile occasion.

Chivu faces a baptism of fire in Europe, taking his side to a ground where his own manager, Jose Mourinho, once led Inter to Champions League glory. The Real Madrid squad also carries its own subplot, with former Inter right-back Denzel Dumfries set to face his old club for the first time since leaving in the summer. Inter's last European campaign ended in the playoffs, and Tuesday represents an early chance to signal a more ambitious trajectory this time around.