Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign gets underway on Tuesday night at the Bernabéu, and ahead of the clash with Inter Milan, there’s a notable absentee in the visitors’ travelling squad — Federico Dimarco will not be making the trip to the Spanish capital.
What Happened
According to a report from Spanish radio outlet COPE, Inter Milan have already flown to Madrid for Tuesday’s match, but the group does not include left-back Federico Dimarco. The Italian international picked up knee discomfort during Saturday’s Serie A fixture against Napoli, and that knock has been enough to keep him out of the squad for one of the biggest games in Inter’s European calendar so far this season.
Dimarco has been one of Inter’s most consistent performers in recent seasons — a technically gifted, attack-minded left-back who contributes heavily at both ends of the pitch. His absence is no small thing for Simone Inzaghi’s side. The 28-year-old is a set-piece specialist and provides a genuine creative outlet down the left flank, so whoever steps in to fill that role at the Bernabéu will have big boots to fill.
What It Means for Real Madrid
Of course, it would be wrong to suggest Los Blancos are heading into this one fully loaded themselves. José Mourinho’s squad is also dealing with a string of absentees ahead of the Champions League opener, with Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler and Rodrygo all ruled out through a combination of injury and suspension. That’s a significant chunk of attacking and creative quality missing from the equation, and it means Mourinho will need to make some calculated decisions when naming his lineup on Tuesday night.
The context makes this fixture all the more intriguing. Real Madrid come into it on the back of their first league defeat of the season, having been beaten by Real Betis at the weekend — a result that will have stung in the dressing room and added a little extra edge to the importance of starting the European campaign on the right foot. There’s nothing like a Champions League night at the Bernabéu to sharpen the focus, and with both sides missing key personnel, this could be a closer, more tactical affair than many might expect.
Historically, Real Madrid’s record in the Champions League is the stuff of legend — thirteen European Cups and a culture built around performing on the grandest stage. The Bernabéu on a European night remains one of the most intimidating venues in world football, and even a slightly depleted Madrid side at home tends to be a formidable proposition. Mourinho, for his part, knows the competition inside out, and you’d back him to organise a competitive side regardless of who is and isn’t available.
For Inter, missing Dimarco down the left could open up some interesting tactical possibilities for Madrid’s right side. Whoever comes in as a deputy will likely be less comfortable bombing forward and may be more conservative, which could invite Real Madrid to push their left-sided players — whether that’s Vinícius Júnior or a rotating option in this particular lineup — into more threatening positions.
What’s Next
All eyes now turn to Tuesday night and the official lineup confirmations from both camps. Real Madrid fans will be eager to see how Mourinho lines his side up given the absentees, and whether the team can shake off the disappointment of the Betis defeat and begin their European journey with three points.
A strong start in the Champions League group stage sets the tone for the entire campaign, and with the Bernabéu crowd behind them, there’s every reason to believe Los Blancos can get off to a winning start — even if it won’t be the full-strength, free-flowing performance supporters might ideally want. Sometimes gritty, determined European nights are the ones that matter most come May.
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For official club updates, visit Real Madrid’s official website.
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