In a statement of unity and resilience, Real Madrid delivered a commanding 6-1 victory over AS Monaco at the Santiago Bernabéu, marking a powerful response to a turbulent week and a significant step forward under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa.
The match was framed by high emotions, coming just days after the controversial sacking of Xabi Alonso and a period where even the team’s stars faced intense criticism from their own supporters.
The early breakthrough, however, eased the tension. After just five minutes, Federico Valverde found Kylian Mbappé, who clinically finished past goalkeeper Philipp Köhn to open the scoring against his former club.
Mbappé doubled the lead in the 26th minute, finishing a sweeping team move that involved Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Güler, before Vinícius Júnior provided the final, unselfish pass for a simple tap-in. The French striker’s 11th Champions League goal of the campaign made a significant point on a night where his teammates also shone.
Chief among them was Vinícius Júnior, who produced a masterclass to answer his critics in emphatic fashion. After assisting Mbappé’s second, the Brazilian was central to the second-half onslaught.
He first provided a clever pass for youngster Franco Mastantuono to slot home his first Champions League goal, before another dangerous cross was turned into his own net by Monaco defender Thilo Kehrer.
Vinícius then capped his phenomenal individual performance by lashing a powerful strike into the top corner for Madrid’s fifth goal.
The Bernabéu, which had been a source of whistles and white protest handkerchiefs just days prior, transformed into a cauldron of support. Head coach Álvaro Arbeloa emphasized the importance of this shift, stating, “It’s a night on which the Bernabéu has shown that when they are with their team, Real Madrid are better. I saw how much the Bernabéu was devoted to Vini Jr… He needs to feel loved by his people”.
Jude Bellingham completed the rout, calmly rounding Köhn to score the sixth and final goal, a moment that lifted Real Madrid into second place in the Champions League group standings. A lone consolation for Monaco came from Jordan Teze, who capitalized on a sloppy Madrid pass at the back.
Beyond the scoreline, the match felt like a turning point. Players like Bellingham and Vinícius, who had borne the brunt of recent fan frustration, responded not with words but with dominant performances on the pitch.
For a team and a fanbase seeking reconciliation after a rocky start to the Arbeloa era, this emphatic victory served as the perfect catalyst, proving that when united, this squad possesses the devastating quality to challenge for the game’s biggest honors.