Real Madrid delivered a masterclass performance with a 6-1 demolition of Monaco in the Champions League, featuring a standout display from former Monaco youth product Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe's Double Delight
The French superstar struck twice against his boyhood club, bringing his tally to 13 goals in 15 meetings against Monaco since leaving in 2017. His opener came just five minutes into new manager Alvaro Arbeloa's European debut, finishing a slick move involving Federico Valverde and teenage sensation Franco Mastantuono.
"Mbappe now leads the Champions League scoring charts with 11 goals this season - five more than his closest competitor,"
The 25-year-old added Real's second with a composed finish after brilliant build-up play featuring Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius Jr, silencing critics after recent fan discontent.
Youthful Flair & Defensive Blunders
Eighteen-year-old Mastantuono marked his European breakthrough with a clinical strike (51'), while Monaco's struggles worsened when Thilo Kehrer turned Vinicius Jr's cross into his own net. The Brazilian winger then capped his man-of-the-match performance with a thunderous strike off the crossbar.
Late Consolation & Bellingham's Response
Monaco's Jordan Teze capitalized on defensive errors to score (68'), but England's Jude Bellingham immediately responded with a cool finish past goalkeeper Philipp Kohn - his first goal of 2026.
Group Standings Implications
The victory keeps Real second in Group D with 15 points, needing only a draw at Benfica (28 January) to secure automatic last-16 qualification. Meanwhile, Monaco sit bottom with nine points and require victory against Juventus to salvage a playoff spot.
This emphatic win provides relief for interim manager Arbeloa, whose tenure began with a Copa del Rey upset before steadying with two consecutive victories.
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