Real Madrid squad vs Inter: Tchouaméni, Thiago Pitarch and Endrick in

José Mourinho can count on Aurelien Tchouaméni, Thiago Pitarch and Endrick for the first time this season as Real Madrid begin their Champions League campaign against Inter Milan on Tuesday at 21:00. Suspensions to Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler and Eduardo Camavinga force the manager to reshape his side for a European opener in which Madrid want to make an immediate statement.

• Tchouaméni, Thiago Pitarch and Endrick feature in the squad for the first time this term after recovering from injury.
• Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler and Camavinga are suspended for the first European matchday.
• Mendy, Raúl Asencio, Éder Militao and Rodrygo Goes remain unavailable through injury.
• Andriy Lunin misses out with flu and Sergio Martínez is not included in the list.

Three returning players reshape Mourinho's Champions League plans

The biggest news in the Madrid camp comes in midfield and attack. Tchouaméni, Thiago Pitarch and Endrick had not been able to feature so far this season due to physical problems, and Mourinho can now use them for the first time since the start of the campaign. All three offer work rate, energy and goals in a match that tests the depth of the squad against a demanding opponent.

Their return partly softens the blow of losing Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler and Camavinga through suspension in the middle of the park. The manager will need to rely on Bellingham, Valverde and the returning players to control the tempo of the game.

Defensive and goalkeeping absences that limit Mourinho

In defence, the injury list continues to have an impact. Ferland Mendy, Raúl Asencio and Éder Militao are unavailable, leaving Huijsen, Trent, Konaté, Cucurella, Álvaro Carreras, Rüdiger, Dumfries and Mario Rivas as the options to form the back line. Madrid begin their European campaign with fewer pieces than expected in one of the areas that usually demands more rotation.

There is no full complement of goalkeepers either. Andriy Lunin, the team's second-choice keeper, drops out of the squad with flu, so Courtois will be joined by Sergio Mestre and Javi Navarro. The Belgian is the clear favourite to start between the posts in the continental opener.

Sergio Martínez left out despite being registered for the Champions League

Sergio Martínez is a particular case. The recent signing from Racing de Santander is registered on the main list for the competition, but he has joined the club to play regularly with Real Madrid Castilla, the first reserve team. Even so, Mourinho has not named him in the squad to face Inter, a sign that his immediate role will be away from the first team.

Real Madrid's full squad list for the Inter match

Mourinho has called up the following players for the first matchday of the Champions League league phase:

• Goalkeepers: Courtois, Sergio Mestre and Javi Navarro.
• Defenders: Huijsen, Trent, Konaté, Cucurella, Álvaro Carreras, Rüdiger, Dumfries and Mario Rivas.
• Midfielders: Bellingham, Valverde, Tchouaméni, Thiago Pitarch and Jorge Cestero.
• Forwards: Vinícius, Endrick, Mbappé, Carlos Espí, Brahim Díaz and Yan Diomande.

What is at stake for Real Madrid in the European opener against Inter

Real Madrid open the Champions League league phase at home against a historic rival in Inter Milan. Three points on the first matchday carry double value: they allow the team to start with an advantage in the overall standings and build confidence in a European calendar that punishes every slip. With 36 clubs involved, every win matters when it comes to securing a strong position for the knockout rounds.

Mourinho knows the Italian side well and understands that the match will demand defensive focus and clinical finishing. The return of Tchouaméni, Thiago Pitarch and Endrick gives him more alternatives in a line-up that loses three midfielders to suspension but still features the quality of Mbappé, Vinícius, Bellingham and Valverde to tip the balance.

FAQ: Real Madrid squad against Inter Milan