Real Madrid are entering another season with enormous expectations, but the 2026/27 campaign is already taking an interesting turn.
José Mourinho has returned to the Santiago Bernabéu with the objective of building a competitive team capable of challenging for the biggest trophies in Europe. Kylian Mbappé remains the headline attacking star, while Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham and a talented group of young players give Madrid plenty of options.
After winning their opening three La Liga matches, Real Madrid suffered their first defeat of the campaign against Real Betis. The 1–0 loss ended their perfect league start and created an important test for Mourinho and his squad.
Now attention turns toward Europe.
Real Madrid’s Champions League Campaign
Real Madrid will begin their 2026/27 Champions League campaign at home against Inter Milan on September 8.
The match at the Santiago Bernabéu will be one of the first major European tests of Mourinho’s second spell in charge.
Madrid’s first-phase schedule also includes matches against Roma, Leipzig, AEK Athens, PSV, Arsenal, LASK and Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Champions League schedule gives Mourinho plenty of opportunities to measure his team against different styles of opposition.
Mourinho Wants a Competitive Real Madrid
José Mourinho is one of the most experienced managers in European football, and his return to Real Madrid has attracted enormous attention.
His teams are traditionally associated with tactical organization, defensive discipline and strong performances in important matches.
However, this Real Madrid squad contains several attacking superstars, meaning Mourinho must find the right balance between defensive structure and attacking freedom.
That could become one of the defining stories of the season.
Mbappé Remains the Key Player
Kylian Mbappé is expected to be at the center of Real Madrid’s Champions League ambitions.
The French forward has already shown his ability to score important goals for the club. In the opening home league match against Real Sociedad, Mbappé scored a hat-trick as Madrid won 4–1.
His speed, movement and finishing make him one of the most dangerous forwards in European football.
But the recent match against Real Betis demonstrated that even the world’s best forwards can have difficult nights.
Mbappé had a late penalty saved in that game, while Real Madrid failed to score despite creating several opportunities.
The best response will be on the pitch.
Vinícius Júnior Adds Explosive Pace
Vinícius Júnior continues to provide Real Madrid with a different attacking dimension.
The Brazilian winger can stretch defensive lines with his speed and create opportunities from wide positions.
His combination with Mbappé could be particularly important in the Champions League, where Madrid often face teams that defend deeply before attempting to counterattack.
If Vinícius and Mbappé find consistent chemistry, Real Madrid could become extremely difficult to defend.
Jude Bellingham’s Role
Jude Bellingham is another crucial part of Madrid’s plans.
The England midfielder has the ability to contribute both creatively and defensively, while his movement into the penalty area gives Mourinho another scoring option.
Bellingham was involved in the build-up to Madrid’s goals against Real Sociedad and continues to offer an important link between midfield and attack.
His versatility could become especially valuable during a season containing La Liga, Champions League and domestic cup football.
Arda Güler Could Be Important
One of the most interesting players to watch is Arda Güler.
The young Turkish international possesses excellent technical quality and creativity, giving Madrid an alternative when they need more imagination in the final third.
With a long season ahead, Güler could receive more opportunities.
His development will be particularly interesting because Real Madrid need young players capable of contributing immediately while also preparing for the future.
The Midfield Challenge
One of Mourinho’s biggest problems could be maintaining balance in midfield.
Real Madrid have several players capable of operating in different positions, but injuries, suspensions and the demanding schedule can quickly create selection problems.
Recent reports have highlighted midfield availability issues ahead of the Champions League, potentially forcing Mourinho to experiment with his formation and player positions.
This is where squad depth will become extremely important.
Real Madrid Must Improve Their Finishing
The defeat against Betis highlighted one of the biggest issues Madrid need to solve.
Creating chances is not enough at the highest level.
Against Betis, Madrid had opportunities but failed to score. Mbappé also missed a stoppage-time penalty, while goalkeeper Álvaro Valles produced an important performance for the home side.
In Champions League knockout matches, one missed opportunity can decide an entire tie.
Mourinho will therefore want his attackers to become more efficient in front of goal.
The Response to the Betis Defeat
The Betis defeat should not be viewed as a disaster.
It was Madrid’s first league loss of the season, and the team had previously won three consecutive matches.
Mourinho himself argued that Madrid had played well and created numerous opportunities during the match, despite ultimately losing.
The important thing now is how the squad responds.
A strong performance against Inter would immediately change the mood around the team.
Real Madrid’s Upcoming Schedule
The next few weeks could be extremely important.
Madrid will face Rayo Vallecano in La Liga before travelling to Elche. The team will then face Atlético Madrid in a major Madrid derby.
The Champions League opener against Inter is arguably the biggest immediate test.
This busy period will show whether Mourinho has enough depth to rotate his squad without reducing the team’s quality.
Can Real Madrid Win the Champions League?
Real Madrid should always be considered among the contenders.
The club’s history in the competition, combined with the quality of the current squad, means expectations will remain high.
Mbappé provides elite attacking quality.
Vinícius offers pace and creativity.
Bellingham brings energy and versatility.
Güler provides technical creativity.
And Mourinho brings enormous experience in European competition.
However, Champions League success will depend on more than individual talent.
Madrid need consistency, defensive stability, tactical flexibility and clinical finishing.
A New Era at the Bernabéu
Mourinho’s return makes the 2026/27 season particularly fascinating.
His previous Real Madrid spell produced intense matches, major trophies and some of the most memorable moments in Spanish football.
This time, he inherits a different generation of players.
The challenge is to create a team where established stars and emerging talents can work together.
If Mourinho succeeds, Real Madrid could become one of the strongest teams in Europe again.
Final Thoughts
Real Madrid’s 2026/27 season is only beginning, but the pressure is already enormous.
The defeat against Real Betis provided Mourinho with an early warning, while the Champions League match against Inter offers an immediate opportunity to respond.
Mbappé will remain central to Madrid’s ambitions, while Vinícius Júnior, Bellingham and Güler could all play major roles.
The Champions League is where Real Madrid’s mentality will be tested most severely.
If Mourinho can build the right tactical balance and his attacking stars become more clinical, Madrid have the quality to challenge for European football’s biggest prize.
For Real Madrid, the message is simple: one defeat does not define the season. The response will.
FAQs
Who is Real Madrid’s manager in 2026/27?
José Mourinho is Real Madrid’s manager for the 2026/27 season.
When is Real Madrid’s first Champions League match?
Real Madrid are scheduled to host Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu on September 8, 2026.
Who is Real Madrid’s main striker?
Kylian Mbappé is the club’s leading attacking star and one of the most important players in Mourinho’s squad.
Can Real Madrid win the Champions League?
Yes. Real Madrid have the squad quality and European experience to compete for the Champions League, although consistency and tactical balance will be crucial.
What happened against Real Betis?
Real Madrid lost 1–0 to Real Betis, with Troy Parrott scoring the winning goal. Mbappé later had a stoppage-time penalty saved.
What is Real Madrid’s biggest challenge this season?
Maintaining balance between attacking talent, midfield stability and defensive organization while competing across multiple competitions will be one of Mourinho’s biggest challenges.