Josep Martinez gifts goal to Valverde with shocking blunder against Real Madrid

Real Madrid took advantage of two defensive gifts from Inter Milan to win at the Bernabéu on the first matchday of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 14th minute, before a monumental blunder from Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez sealed the fate of the match.

The Nerazzurri had made a solid start, forcing Thibaut Courtois into three decisive saves early on. But Inter then crumbled on their own mistakes. First, Yann Bisseck, deployed in the centre of a three-man defence by Christian Chivu, got tangled up under pressure from Mbappé. Brahim Diaz capitalised on the confusion to release the Frenchman, who finished powerfully.

Less than ten minutes later, it was Martinez who let his side down. On an innocuous pass from Benjamin Pavard, the Spanish goalkeeper, positioned just in front of his goal line, attempted a flick with the sole of his boot to clear Federico Valverde. The ball escaped him and went straight into the net. An incomprehensible gesture at this level, which will go down as one of the most costly blunders of this group stage.

Recruited in 2023 from Genoa, Martinez had been sidelined from FC Barcelona’s academy before rebuilding himself at Las Palmas. Promoted to Inter’s number one this summer following Yann Sommer’s departure, he was only playing his third Champions League match. His entry into the competition will remain painful.