Real Madrid opened the new Champions League format with a dominant 6-1 win over Monaco, led by Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. The result, in Alvaro Arbeloa’s first game in charge in Europe, lifted
Madrid to second in the 36-team table and strengthened hopes of a favourable last-16 draw.
Mbappe struck twice against former club Monaco, while Vinicius delivered a complete attacking display with two assists, a goal and the cross that forced an own goal. Franco Mastantuono and Jude Bellingham also scored, as Sebastien Pocognoli’s side were left facing a serious risk of early elimination from the competition.
The meeting added another chapter to Mbappe’s record against Monaco, the club where Mbappe first rose to prominence in Europe during the 2016-17 semi-final run. Mbappe has now produced 17 goal contributions in 15 matches versus Monaco, scoring 13 times and supplying four assists, leaving Monaco struggling to contain the forward once again.
Those numbers sit just behind Mbappe’s output against Montpellier, where Mbappe has 21 contributions, and level with Mbappe’s tally against Lille, also 17. In the 2025-26 Champions League, Mbappe became the first player to reach double digits, moving to 11 goals and matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2015-16 mark for most strikes in a single group or league-phase campaign.
Vinicius matched Mbappe’s influence with an all-round performance from the left. The Brazilian created seven chances, more than double any other player on the pitch, and finished with two assists. Vinicius also forced Thilo Kehrer’s own goal and later scored with a powerful right-footed shot, answering recent whistles from sections of Madrid’s support during the 2-0 LaLiga win over Levante.
Mastantuono added another storyline for Madrid. At 18 years and 159 days, Mastantuono became the third-youngest player to score for Real Madrid in the Champions League. Only Endrick, at 18 years and 58 days, and Raul, at 18 years and 113 days, have found the net for the club in the competition at a younger age.
Mbappe’s first intervention came inside five minutes, as Madrid punished Monaco’s loose shape. After sharp interplay involving Mastantuono and Federico Valverde, Mbappe drove a low finish into the bottom-left corner. Monaco briefly threatened when Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati shot wide on a counter-attack, but Madrid soon reasserted control with a well-worked second goal.
That second strike arrived from a flowing move. Eduardo Camavinga produced a clever flick in midfield, Vinicius burst down the flank and squared across goal, and Mbappe converted from close range. Monaco replied by going close when Jordan Teze crashed a fierce effort against the crossbar, yet the pressure eased for Madrid as half-time arrived with a two-goal cushion.
The game moved out of Monaco’s reach early in the second half. Vinicius turned smartly and slipped a pass through for Mastantuono, who drove a composed finish across Philipp Kohn for a first Champions League goal. Madrid’s fourth followed when Vinicius delivered from the left and Kehrer, attempting to defend the cross, diverted the ball into Kohn’s net.
Vinicius then scored the goal the performance appeared to demand. Taking Arda Guler’s lay-off, Vinicius carried the ball into the penalty area and smashed a fierce right-footed shot into the top of the goal. Madrid were in full control at that stage, though Monaco did briefly reduce the margin after a defensive mistake from the Spanish side.
#UCL pic.twitter.com/8OHCtg9NntUEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 20, 2026
Substitute Dani Ceballos lost possession inside Madrid’s box, allowing Teze to punish the error with a drilled finish. However, Madrid quickly restored the five-goal advantage. Bellingham collected the ball, rounded Kohn with composure and slid in the sixth, giving Madrid a statement scoreline to start this Champions League campaign under Arbeloa.
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