Kylian Mbappe haunted his former club once again, scoring twice as Real Madrid thrashed Monaco 6-1 to give manager Alvaro Arbeloa a perfect Champions League debut.
The Frenchman took his European tally to 11 goals this season, netting twice in the first 26 minutes.
18-year-old Franco Mastantuono also made history with his first Champions League goal, while Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham—who scored his first of 2026—rounded out the dominant performance.
After a rocky start including a Copa del Rey exit, Arbeloa’s Madrid looked rejuvenated. Vinicius Junior provided two assists and a spectacular goal to silence recent critics.
Real Madrid moves to 2nd place (15 pts). They can secure a direct spot in the last 16 with a result against Benfica on January 28.
Following the rout, Monaco sits in 20th place and must beat Juventus to ensure a play-off spot.
The win eases tensions at the Bernabéu, shifting the narrative from recent coaching changes to a team back in peak European form.
