Real Madrid recorded a success in the seventh round of the UEFA Champions League main stage, against AS Monaco, final score 6-1, in a “dream” atmosphere that was created at the “Bernabeu”. Vinicius Junior, with a goal, two assists and a contribution to the own goal scored by the guests, was declared “man of the match”, while Kylian Mbappe scored a “double” and equaled a record that belonged to Cristiano Ronaldo. The “Galactics” are “one step” closer to directly qualifying for the round of 16 of the European competition, while the team from the Principality will evolve in the play-offs.
Real Madrid hosted AS Monaco in the penultimate round of the UEFA Champions League main stage, at the Bernabeu. Alvaro Arbeloa made his debut as coach of Los Blancos in the continental competition, after the Spanish coach led the team from the capital in the defeat suffered against Albacete in the Copa del Rey and the victory against Levante in LaLiga. In the general standings of the “league of stars”, prior to the match, Real Madrid occupied seventh place with a total of 12 points collected, while the Monegasque team was in 19th place, three lengths behind the Madrid team.
At the Bernabeu, in this continental season, Real Madrid had managed to defeat Olympique Marseille and Juventus, only to lose the match played in the company of Manchester City, with a final score of 1-2. On the other hand, the team from the Principality had lost only once in Europe this season, in the opening round, at Club Brugge, after which teams such as Manchester City, Tottenham, Bodo Glimt, Pafos and Galatasaray failed to get past the Ligue 1 club. Kylian Mbappe met his former team in the duel in the Spanish capital, having played for three seasons at AS Monaco, a team for which he scored 27 goals and provided 16 assists in 60 close matches.
In the domestic championships, prior to the UEFA Champions League clash, the situations were diametrically opposed, because the “los blancos” group had managed to come within a single point of FC Barcelona in LaLiga, unlike AS Monaco, which had achieved only one success in the most recent eight clashes played in the competition in France. Referring to the direct confrontations between Real Madrid and the team from the Principality, the 2003/2004 season in the highest level continental competition would put them “face to face” in the quarter-finals, when, at the end of the double-leg that ended with the overall score of 5-5, the “red-whites” would qualify for the “four aces”, thanks to the goals scored away.
Alvaro Arbeloa could not rely on the services of Alvaro Carreras, Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo at the time of this game. On the other hand, Sebastien Pocognoli did not have Takumi Minamino and Paul Pogbda available for this game, among other important pieces of the team’s gear. Real Madrid had not lost in 17 of their last 18 matches against French teams in the UEFA Champions League, while AS Monaco had won five of their last eight matches against Spanish teams in major European competitions.
The opening goal came early in the game, when Federico Valverde’s deflection allowed Franco Mastantuono to pass into the centre of the box, where the Uruguayan player received and continued with Kylian Mbappe. The former AS Monaco player fired his first shot wide, and the ball could not be saved by Philipp Kohn. The visitors’ reply came a few moments later, when Ansu Fati’s deep pass found Folarin Balogun, and the United States forward advanced towards the opposing goal. However, the North American’s finish went wide.
Franco Mastantuono came close to doubling the hosts’ lead when the Argentinean received a pass from Federico Valverde in the penalty area, and from a good position, the Real Madrid right-back finished disastrously, the shot going into the row of supporters behind the AS Monaco goalkeeper. Aurelien Tchouameni received a pass on the edge of the box from the same Argentinean player, and, not being attacked by any opponent, the French central midfielder of the “los blancos” team shot strongly, but the ball he sent went over the opponent’s goal.
Caio Henrique threw a ball into the center of the penalty area, from a cross that he sent from the first, and Ansu Fati, from a slide, completed the offensive action, but his attempt to restore parity on the scoreboard went past the posts defended by Thibaut Courtois. From a free kick taken from an angle, Arda Guler crossed for a header that was sent by Aurelien Tchouameni, but Philipp Kohn easily held the ball. The second success of this game belonged to the group from the “Bernabeu”, Kylian Mbappe scoring to record the “double”, from the decisive pass coming from Vinicius Junior.
AS Monaco was one step away from reducing the difference on the scoreboard, when, in the 31st minute of the game, Jordan Teze “catapulted” a ball from about 30 meters away from the opposing goal, but his powerful execution hit the crossbar. Thibaut Courtois made a life-saving save with about 10 minutes left in the first act of the confrontation, when the Belgian goalkeeper rejected the volley execution sent by Maghnes Akliouche to the side. The third goal of this match was scored by the Argentine footballer, Franco Mastantuono, who, after receiving a pass from Vinicius Junior, shot unstoppably, to the far corner, to shake the opponent’s net.
Real Madrid did not stop, and, a few moments later, an own goal signed by Thilo Kehrer, after a cross coming from the left side from Vinicius Junior, increased the difference in the total, Philipp Kohn not being able to intervene. Later, Ansu Fati seriously tested Thibaut Courtois, when the Spanish striker belonging to Barcelona shot from close range, but the Belgian goalkeeper kept his legs intact. Vinicius Junior recovered a ball, after taking advantage of an error that was committed in the construction of the phase by the people of AS Monaco, and, after advancing with the ball at his feet, the Brazilian footballer finished unstoppably, to the near corner, next to Eric Dier.
A few minutes later, a construction error by the “los blancos” team allowed the Monegasques to gain possession of the ball, and from a few meters, Jordan Teze completed a simple formality, leaving Thibaut Courtois open to a goal “as if it were done”. The final result of the match would be determined with the entry into the last 10 minutes of regulation time, Jude Bellingham being released into free space by Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde, and, after the English footballer easily passed Philipp Kohn, he pushed the ball into the empty net to score the second goal of this edition of the UEFA Champions League.
Real Madrid have provisionally climbed to second place in the overall standings in the continental competition, accumulating a total of 15 points, six points behind current leader Arsenal, but the group from the Spanish capital could be overtaken in the standings by Bayern Munich, if the Bavarian team defeats Royale Union SG at home.
On the other hand, Sebastien Pocognoli’s students have lost for the second time this season in the Champions League and occupy 21st place, four points away from the last qualifying place in the knockout phase of the competition. In the stage that will conclude the main round of the UEFA Champions League, the “los blancos” club will face Benfica Lisbon, away, and AS Monaco will receive the visit of the Italians from Juventus Turin.