Kylian Mbappé netted a brace, with Jude Bellingham also on target, as Real Madrid ran riot against Monaco in Alvaro Arbeloa’s first Champions League match in charge of the Spanish giants.
Arbeloa, who replaced Xabi Alonso on January 12 following Real’s Spanish Super Cup defeat to Barcelona, saw his side secure a dominant 5-1 victory, strengthening their bid to reach the last 16.
The 15-time European champions wasted no time taking the lead, scoring just five minutes into the match. Franco Mastantuono’s electric run down the right set up captain Federico Valverde, who found Mbappé to fire a low right-footed finish into the bottom corner.
Mbappé, who started his career at Monaco as a 14-year-old in 2013, now boasts 13 goals in 15 appearances against his former club for both Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. Already the top scorer in this season’s Champions League, he doubled Real’s advantage in the 26th minute following a fluid team move involving a deft flick from Eduardo Camavinga and a precise low cross from Vinicius Jr.
The onslaught continued after the interval, with Mastantuono scoring his first Champions League goal in the 51st minute, finishing expertly after another slick move orchestrated by Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian forward then provided the assist for Real’s fourth goal, as his low cross deflected off former West Ham defender Thilo Kehrer into his own net. Vinicius capped a sensational performance with a fifth goal, blasting a shot off the underside of the crossbar.
Monaco briefly pulled one back when Real lost possession from the back, allowing Jordan Teze—who had earlier struck the crossbar—to finish clinically. However, England midfielder Jude Bellingham restored Madrid’s five-goal cushion, rounding goalkeeper Philipp Kohn to score his first goal of 2026.
The result leaves Real Madrid second in their group with 15 points from seven games. A positive result against Benfica in their next away match on January 28 would secure qualification for the last 16, bypassing a two-legged knockout play-off.
Arbeloa, previously in charge of Real’s B team, began his senior managerial stint with a 3-2 shock loss to Segunda División side Albacete in the Copa del Rey, followed by a 2-0 La Liga win over Levante.
Monaco, by contrast, remain in 20th place with nine points and must defeat Juventus at home to keep their play-off hopes alive.
