Real Madrid opened their Champions League campaign with a win over Inter Milan at the Bernabéu, but analyst Álvaro Benito was not fully convinced by the performance, according to Spanish outlet Cadena SER.
Benito, speaking after the match, said the victory was missing "control" and that the team lacked what he described as "almost always" the same element in their play. Cadena SER reports that the former Real Madrid player highlighted this absence despite the positive result.
The match itself was marked by a lack of order, according to El Mundo. The Spanish newspaper described the win as a "victory of discontrol," noting that Inter dominated possession and created chances but also made errors that Real Madrid capitalised on. The report suggests the scoreline flattered the home side, who struggled to impose themselves for long stretches.
Real Madrid's official website confirmed the win in their Champions League opener but offered little detail beyond the result. Meanwhile, Diario AS focused on goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, suggesting that some things do not change, with the Belgian again proving decisive. MARCA reported that the Bernabéu crowd left feeling concerned, despite the three points, reflecting a sense of unease about the team's overall display.
The mixed reactions underline a broader theme: Real Madrid secured the result but not the performance. For a club with their standards, the questions around midfield control and defensive solidity are unlikely to fade quickly.
What to watch next is whether coach Carlo Ancelotti addresses these concerns before the next La Liga fixture, or if the team can build on the win without improving their overall balance.
