Kylian Mbappe produced a ruthless performance against his former club Monaco, scoring twice as Real Madrid swept aside the French side 6-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday, easing growing tension around the Spanish giants.
The emphatic victory significantly boosted Madrid’s push for a top-eight finish in the league phase and showcased their attacking firepower at its best.
Vinicius Junior, who had faced criticism from sections of the home crowd during last weekend’s league win over Levante, delivered an inspired display and capped it with a superb goal.
Under new coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who replaced Xabi Alonso last week, Madrid continued their recovery with a second consecutive win, dazzling fans with a fluent and confident attacking performance.
Jude Bellingham and Franco Mastantuono both found the net for Los Blancos, while Monaco defender Thilo Kehrer inadvertently added to his side’s misery by turning a dangerous Vinicius cross into his own goal. The performance was widely viewed as Madrid’s most complete showing of the season so far.
Mbappe, who has remained outstanding even during Madrid’s inconsistent spell, extended his lead at the top of the Champions League scoring charts with goals number 10 and 11. After sitting out the Copa del Rey humiliation against Albacete in Arbeloa’s troubled debut, the French forward has now scored in back-to-back matches.
The breakthrough arrived inside five minutes as Mbappe finished clinically from inside the box after Federico Valverde nodded Franco Mastantuono’s cut-back into his path. Following his celebration, Mbappe turned to apologise to the Monaco supporters, the club where he first rose to global prominence.
Monaco briefly threatened through Ansu Fati, on loan from Barcelona, but Madrid soon struck again with a devastating counter-attack. Eduardo Camavinga’s flick released Arda Guler, who fed Vinicius before the Brazilian squared for Mbappe to score his second, timing his run to perfection.
Despite their defensive struggles, Monaco continued to push forward, with Jordan Teze rattling the crossbar from distance and Thibaut Courtois producing a couple of assured saves. Madrid resumed control after the break, with Vinicius setting up Mastantuono for a composed finish to make it three.
The floodgates opened after 55 minutes when Kehrer diverted Vinicius’s low cross into his own net. Vinicius then got his reward, smashing Madrid’s fifth into the top corner and embracing Arbeloa, who has publicly backed him since taking charge. It was only his second goal in 19 appearances, but it silenced the early boos and reignited the crowd.
Teze pulled one back for Monaco following an error from Dani Ceballos, but Madrid had the final say. Bellingham rounded off the rout in the 80th minute, calmly dribbling past the goalkeeper after a clever dummy from Dean Huijsen to seal a commanding victory.
What you should know
Real Madrid’s 6-1 demolition of Monaco marked a turning point in their Champions League campaign, easing pressure after recent struggles.
Kylian Mbappe’s brace highlighted his importance and consistency, while Vinicius Junior’s standout performance suggested a return to form after weeks of criticism. Under new coach Alvaro Arbeloa, Madrid showed renewed confidence, fluid attacking play, and improved cohesion.
The result strengthens their chances of finishing in the top eight and restoring belief among supporters, while also underlining Monaco’s defensive frailties against elite opposition on Europe’s biggest stage.
