Valverde scores in 80th Champions League match as Real Madrid edges Inter 2-1

Eighty Champions League matches, and to mark the occasion, a goal that ended up deciding everything. Fede Valverde doesn't do things by halves: when there's a round number worth celebrating, he celebrates it with a goal at just the right moment. That's exactly what happened at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Real Madrid beat Inter Milan 2-1 in their opening league-phase match.

The game broke open in the 22nd minute of the first half. Josep Martinez, Inter's goalkeeper, mishandled the ball inside his own box, and Valverde pounced to steal it away and slot it into the back of the net. It made the score 2-0 at that point, though Inter pushed back afterward and pulled one goal back, forcing Madrid to grind out the win until the final whistle.

For the Uruguayan, the match carried extra significance even before kickoff: he arrived with 79 career appearances in Europe's top competition, according to official UEFA records. The clash against Inter was, therefore, his 80th appearance in the tournament, and he marked it in the best way possible: with a goal, a win, and the man of the match award to top it off.

Two Champions League titles in the cabinet

Valverde's journey in this competition is no small feat. The midfielder won the Champions League with Madrid in the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons, two titles that cemented him as a key piece of the club's project. Across his 80 appearances he has racked up 7 goals and 12 assists, numbers that reflect the transformation of a player who once picked up minutes sparingly in Europe and has since become an undisputed regular in Madrid's starting eleven.

The individual award, however, wasn't free of controversy. Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid's head coach, disagreed with Valverde's selection as Player of the Match and publicly defended Thibaut Courtois's performance during the post-match press conference.

It was a crazy game, the kind of craziness I don't like. I much prefer being able to score five, six or seven goals, but keeping total control and not needing an absolutely incredible goalkeeper.Jose Mourinho

The Portuguese coach went further and, half-joking, questioned whoever decided to give the award to the Uruguayan over the Belgian goalkeeper.

Whoever decides the man of the match in today's game must have been asleep, because if Courtois doesn't get man of the match today, he's never going to get it, and I'm not taking anything away from Fede, who deserved it.Jose Mourinho

Mourinho also spoke about Valverde's goal, stressing that it was no accident but rather the product of a shared reading of the match.

Valverde's goal wasn't a coincidence, it was great interpretation from him and from us as a team. We played against a great side, their midfield wanted to control things and couldn't. Three very important points. I'm convinced we're going to qualify.

The debate over the award even reached the man himself, who looked surprised as he received it from UEFA. Beyond the argument over who deserved the trophy, the night will be remembered for a rare combination: a goal at the Bernabeu, a 2-1 win, and a round number, 80 matches, that Valverde can now file away among his best memories in a Real Madrid shirt.