Kylian Mbappe scored twice, with Vinícius and Jude Bellingham also on target, as Real Madrid produced a dominant display to thrash Monaco 6-1 in Álvaro Arbeloa’s first UEFA Champions League match in charge of the Spanish giants.
Arbeloa, who replaced Xabi Alonso on 12 January following Real’s defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, watched his side record a comfortable victory that significantly boosted their chances of reaching the last 16.
The 15-time European champions needed just five minutes to open the scoring against Monaco, once again punished by their former player. Franco Mastantuono surged down the right before picking out captain Federico Valverde, whose pass found Mbappé to fire a low right-footed effort into the bottom corner.
Mbappe, who began his career at Monaco after joining their academy as a 14-year-old in 2013, has now scored 13 goals in 15 matches against the French side across spells with Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
The France captain, also the Champions League’s leading scorer this season, doubled Real’s advantage in the 26th minute to register his 11th goal of the campaign. After urging supporters not to boo the team amid recent disappointments, Mbappe was on hand to finish a flowing move that featured a clever flick from Eduardo Camavinga and a low cross from Vinícius Júnior.
Real extended their lead shortly after the interval as 18-year-old Argentine international Mastantuono marked his first Champions League start with his maiden goal in the competition, finishing first time in the 51st minute following superb work from Vinícius Jr.
The Brazilian winger was again instrumental in the fourth goal, his low cross being turned into the net by former West Ham defender Thilo Kehrer. Vinícius Jr then capped an outstanding individual performance by blasting in Real’s fifth, the ball flying in off the underside of the crossbar.
The win leaves Real Madrid second in the Champions League table with 15 points from seven matches. A win at Benfica on January 28 would secure direct qualification for the last 16 and avoid a two-legged knockout play-off.
Monaco are 20th in the standings with nine points and must defeat Juventus at home to secure a place in the play-offs.
