There are few more fitting opponents for Jose Mourinho's return to the Champions League as Real Madrid boss than Inter Milan. Sixteen years ago, Mourinho stood in the Santiago Bernabeu and lifted the trophy after leading Inter to a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the 2010 final. It was his second Champions League triumph, after Porto in 2004, and the final match of his Inter reign.
Days later, he was appointed Real Madrid manager for his first spell at the club. Now, after an absence of more than a decade, Mourinho is back in the Bernabeu dugout and Inter are the visitors on Tuesday ( ). For Real Madrid, the match provides the first test of whether the manager they returned to can lead them back to Champions League glory.
Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00. This week there will also be be a highlights show on Thursday on BBC Two at 22:30 with highlights from Thursday's matches dropping at 22:00.
When Mourinho arrived at Real Madrid in 2010, the brief was clear. He needed to challenge Barcelona, to win La Liga and, above all, deliver the club's 10th European Cup. Real lifted the Copa del Rey in 2011 and La Liga in 2012, while Mourinho's side also reached three consecutive Champions League semi-finals.
But they could not get beyond that stage. Real were beaten by Barcelona in 2011, Bayern Munich on penalties in 2012 and Borussia Dortmund in 2013. Mourinho eventually left in 2013 without delivering the Champions League trophy Real wanted.
But he is adamant his previous spell should not define what happens this time. "At Real Madrid, I'm going through two different periods," Mourinho said. "I ended working for Real Madrid in 2013...
Extract — continue reading at the source.