Real Madrid News
Lautaro Martinez insists Inter Milan did not deserve to lose to Real Madrid: ‘We did much more than them’
Lautaro Martinez believes Inter Milan deserved at least a point from their 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid, insisting his side did “much more than them” at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Inter captain pointed to two early mistakes as the decisive moments of the match, with Real Madrid taking advantage before the Italian side recovered and remained competitive.
For Martinez, the overall performance told a different story from the final scoreline.
Speaking to Movistar+ (h/t Mundo Deportivo), the Argentine explained why he felt Inter had done enough to avoid defeat.
“The reason is that in the opening minutes we made two mistakes and they scored two goals against us.
“We stuck to our game plan and didn’t deserve to lose this match. We were up against a massive opponent, but we did much more than Real Madrid,” he said.
Martinez frustrated by Inter mistakes
Inter’s inability to punish Real Madrid was matched by the hosts’ efficiency at the other end.
Martinez acknowledged that mistakes at this level carry a heavy price, particularly against opponents capable of turning limited opportunities into goals.
For the Argentine forward, the immediate disappointment is therefore balanced by confidence that Inter can learn from the experience.
“There’s always a risk. We made two mistakes and they punished us. We’re leaving empty-handed but happy, and with plenty of positives to take forward for the future,” he added.
Inter still believe in Champions League ambitions
The result is an early setback in Inter’s Champions League campaign, but Martinez remains convinced that the team is progressing.
The captain pointed to their recent European record as evidence that Inter have the experience to challenge for the biggest prize.
Asked about the club’s chances of winning the Champions League, Martinez stressed the importance of continued development rather than dwelling on previous disappointments.
“We’re improving with every match. We’ve reached two finals in the last four years, and it slipped through our fingers, but we must keep competing and improving to take Inter as far as possible,” he concluded.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid resolve their pitch problems as the Bernabeu surface returns to good condition
After years of problems with the pitch, Real Madrid now believe that those issues are now a thing of the past, reports MARCA.
For several seasons, the playing surface at the Santiago Bernabeu had become one of Real Madrid’s biggest headaches. Five pitch changes in a single season, paint used to disguise its poor appearance on television and criticism from all sides.
The club had been trying to solve the problem for some time and now, they believe they have finally found an answer.
The Bernabeu begins to put its turf problems behind it
The latest operation was accelerated following the NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the Commanders, forcing the club to replace the playing surface in just 72 hours to meet the deadline last season. This time, however, there was an important difference.
After establishing that the underlying structure was in good condition, Real Madrid decided to retain the existing turf panels and hybrid stitching system rather than remove everything and start again.
The new grass was installed over the existing base after being cultivated for several months. The variety selected was RyeBlue Deportivo, a high-performance mixture consisting of 50% perennial ryegrass and 50% Poa pratensis.
Real Madrid hoped the combination would provide a definitive solution. The club’s groundskeeping team has since refined the maintenance process, and the results are encouraging.
The Bernabeu is now in a condition that satisfies the club, and there are no plans to make further changes to the playing surface during the season.
It is the outcome Real Madrid have been pursuing for years, following a situation that eventually concerned the players themselves.
Major concerts remain the Bernabeu’s outstanding challenge
While the pitch problem appears to have been brought under control, the return of major concerts remains the Bernabeu’s biggest unresolved issue.
Real Madrid have spent months working to address the noise problems that forced them to suspend large-scale concerts.
The work has included soundproofing improvements and other measures designed to prevent noise from escaping the stadium. However, there is still no confirmed date for the return of major events.
Real Madrid believe the work carried out has brought the stadium closer to an optimal level of sound insulation.
Several areas have been reinforced to reduce noise escaping outside, with particular attention paid to entrances, enclosures and other points through which sound waves could travel.
The structural soundproofing work is understood to be nearing completion, with final architectural finishing work and official sound-emission tests still outstanding.
In the meantime, Real Madrid are exploring ways to make a return to large-scale events more feasible.
The aim is to make full use of the improvements already completed and establish a model that allows the club to revive an activity that was one of the major commercial attractions of the renovated stadium.
Until that becomes possible, Real Madrid continue to explore other ways of generating revenue from the Bernabeu. Corporate events, award ceremonies, conferences and private celebrations remain among the alternatives.
For Real Madrid, resolving the pitch issue is a significant step forward. Restoring large-scale entertainment to the Bernabeu remains the next major objective.
