Real Madrid beat Inter 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday to open their Champions League campaign, and the scoreline was the least interesting thing about it. Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde scored inside 23 minutes, both from Inter errors. José Mourinho's side then spent an hour defending.

Inter finished with 64% possession, 21 shots and 11 corners. They completed 94% of their passes, the highest rate any side has managed against Madrid in a Champions League match since 2003-04, according to Opta. They lost anyway.

Two errors, nine minutes apart

The opener came against the run of play. Curtis Jones misplaced a pass outside his own box, Yann Bisseck was caught in possession, and Brahim Díaz slid Mbappé through to finish first time past Josep Martínez on 14 minutes.

Nine minutes later Madrid had a second, and it was worse. Under a high Madrid press, Martínez dwelt on the ball trying to turn away from Valverde. The Uruguayan's tackle sent it rolling into an empty net.

That was 2-0 before the half-hour. Madrid did not score again.

Courtois, on his hundredth night in the competition

Both goalkeepers decided the rest. Martínez, having gifted the second, made six saves, denying Jude Bellingham twice either side of the interval and Mbappé three times. Brahim hit a post in first-half stoppage time.

At the other end Courtois, making his 100th Champions League appearance, made seven. He turned away Marcus Thuram inside three minutes, punched clear a Hakan Çalhanoğlu free-kick on 20, and dived to stop Alessandro Bastoni on 63. Jones struck the crossbar on 35.

Inter's goal came on 77, Carlos Augusto arriving ahead of Denzel Dumfries to convert Lautaro Martínez's cross. The last quarter of an hour was uncomfortable. Madrid held on in front of 74,858.

Mourinho wanted control and did not get it

Without Bernardo Silva, Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Güler, all suspended, Mourinho played Trent Alexander-Arnold in central midfield out of necessity and withdrew him on 79 minutes.

He called it "a tough match with three crucial points" in his post-match press conference, and said he would rather win by five with control than in the chaos he had just watched. He also argued that Courtois deserved the player-of-the-match award that went to Valverde.

Cristian Chivu was not downcast. "I'm not angry at all," the Inter coach told Sky Sport Italia, saying his players' courage and their response to mistakes mattered more to him than the result.

What comes next

Madrid host Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Saturday before travelling to Roma on 14 October. Inter return to the Champions League at San Siro against Club Brugge on 13 October.