Mancini will be keeping an eye on four potential Italy internationals in these games. The first match is a highly anticipated clash between Real Madrid and Inter, which takes place on Tuesday evening. Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella, both expected to start against Real Madrid, are among the Azzurri hopefuls in the Inter squad. Pio Esposito is likely to start on the bench behind Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram.
Federico Dimarco has been left at home due to an issue with his knee. The other Italy international Mancini will be watching is Issa Doumbia, who joined Sporting CP from Venezia in a deal worth €20m plus bonuses earlier this summer. Mancini is also expected to attend the Champions League match between Sporting CP and Galatasaray at 20.00 BST on Wednesday evening to keep an eye on Doumbia.
The 2026-27 Champions League campaign gets underway on Tuesday evening, headlined by a clash of two of the biggest sides on the continent in Real Madrid vs. Inter. Mancini's presence at these matches will give him valuable insight into the form and abilities of these potential Italy internationals.
The Italian coach will be looking to identify the best talent for the national team and make informed decisions about the squad ahead of the upcoming September-October international break, which begins on Monday, September 21.