Calhanoglu: Inter and Real Madrid are both strong teams

Hakan Calhanoglu believes that both Real Madrid and Inter Milan are formidable sides, each boasting exceptional individual talents. He also expressed his pleasure at reuniting with his former teammate, Denzel Dumfries.

The match is scheduled to commence at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid at 20:00 UK time (21:00 CEST).

Inter has started the season strongly, securing victories in their first three Serie A fixtures, including a dramatic late comeback against Napoli. They now face a challenging opening match in the Champions League against a formidable Real Madrid squad in Spain.

"I feel good, and we've had a positive start to the season, which we hope to maintain," Calhanoglu shared with Inter TV and Sky Sport Italia. "We are aware that Real Madrid is a strong team with talented players, but the same can be said for Inter. Our key focus today is on unity, hard work, and maintaining maximum concentration. We aim to play our game effectively, striving for improvement compared to last season, and to make a strong start in the Champions League."

Inter demonstrated a resilient mentality in their recent Serie A victory over Napoli, coming back from a two-goal deficit to secure a 3-2 win in stoppage time. Calhanoglu emphasized this fighting spirit, stating, "We showed the right mentality to never give up, to keep pushing until the very last minute, and we intend to display this mindset even more prominently this season."

The roof at the Bernabéu will be closed for the evening's match, following recent renovations to the iconic stadium.

During the pitch inspection, Denzel Dumfries was seen exchanging greetings with his former Inter teammates, including Calhanoglu. "It's always a pleasure to play here, just as it is at San Siro. We know Mourinho has a significant history in Serie A and has moved to Spain this summer, but we are also happy to see Denzel," Calhanoglu remarked.

Inter's social media channels humorously commented on Dumfries' often stern expression in photographs, noting that they had finally managed to make him smile.