Real Madrid Faces Triple Midfield Suspension Ahead of Inter Clash

Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign will begin with a hole right through the heart of José Mourinho’s midfield.

As the 14-time European champions prepare to host Serie A title-holders Inter Milan in Tuesday’s League Phase clash in Madrid, they already knew injuries would bite. Now suspensions have taken a heavy swing as well.

Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler and Bernardo Silva are all banned for the opening fixture, with UEFA sanctions carrying over from last season’s European run after each midfielder saw red in their final appearance of the 2025/26 campaign. Three creative, progressive options. All wiped off the team sheet in one stroke.

Mourinho was already juggling problems. Rodrygo, Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy remain sidelined, leaving the Real boss without key figures in attack, defence and at full-back. The absences stretch his squad in every department on a night when control of the middle third will be everything.

Inter arrive as freshly crowned Scudetto winners, a side that thrives on structure and rhythm. Real, by contrast, must improvise. The plan for Europe’s grand stage suddenly looks more like a puzzle.

The Bernabéu expects a statement to launch another tilt at the Champions League. Mourinho must now find it without three of his main midfield instruments.