Kylian Mbappe Matches Raul's Champions League Goal Record as Real Madrid Defeat Inter 2-1
Kylian Mbappe scored his 71st goal in the Champions League to help Real Madrid secure a 2-1 win against Inter at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid Clinch Important European Victory
The France captain opened the scoring early with a precise finish inside the box in the 14th minute, putting Jose Mourinho's side ahead. Nine minutes later, Madrid doubled their lead thanks to a defensive blunder by Inter. Goalkeeper Josep Martinez lost control of a back pass from Benjamin Pavard, allowing Federico Valverde to tap the ball into an empty net.
Inter fought hard to get back into the match. Carlos Augusto pulled one back with a goal in the 77th minute, setting up an intense finale, but Los Blancos managed to hold on for the victory.
Mbappe Enters Champions League History Books
Mbappe’s early strike marked his 71st in just 99 Champions League games. This achievement places the 27-year-old joint-fifth on the all-time Champions League top scorers list, matching the legendary Raul, who reached 71 goals in 142 appearances.
Only four players have scored more: Cristiano Ronaldo leads with 140 goals, followed by Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, and Karim Benzema.
Courtois Shines on His 100th Champions League Appearance
While the forwards grabbed attention, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois delivered a crucial performance on his 100th Champions League outing. He denied early threats from Hakan Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez as Inter started strong.
The match was filled with chances at both ends. Martinez redeemed himself with a double save denying Mbappe and Jude Bellingham before halftime, and the post also helped Inter avoid further damage. Curtis Jones rattled the crossbar for Inter later, while Bellingham missed a clear chance to extend Madrid’s lead before Augusto’s goal made the final moments tense.
Upcoming Fixtures
Real Madrid will now turn their focus back to domestic play, preparing to face Rayo Vallecano in La Liga next. Meanwhile, Inter looks to recover from this narrow loss when they meet Udinese in Serie A.
- Match Date: 12 Sept 2026
- Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano (La Liga): 21:00
- Inter vs Udinese (Serie A): 14 Sept 2026, 20:45
