Kylian Mbappe scored twice against former club Monaco as Real Madrid stormed to a 6-1 Champions League win to boost last 16 hopes.
Kylian Mbappe punished his former club as Real Madrid thrashed Monaco 6-1 at the Bernabéu. The French forward struck twice inside 26 minutes to set the tone. Real needed only five minutes to open the scoring through Mbappe. Federico Valverde supplied the assist after sharp work from Franco Mastantuono. Mbappe’s low finish found the corner and ignited the home crowd. Madrid delivered the performance despite several key absentees, with injuries forcing Alvaro Arbeloa to rely on a trimmed squad.
Monaco attempted to respond with quick transitions and carried some threat. Jordan Teze rattled the crossbar before the break and tested Real’s focus. Yet Madrid remained composed and clinical in key moments. Mbappe doubled the lead on 26 minutes after a flowing team move. Vinicius Junior provided the cross following Eduardo Camavinga’s clever flick.
Real extended their advantage early in the second half with a third goal. Mastantuono, just 18, scored his first Champions League goal in the 51st minute. Vinicius again played a decisive role with a precise pass into the area. The pressure continued and resulted in a fourth when Thilo Kehrer turned the ball into his own net. Monaco struggled to cope with Madrid’s pace and movement.
Vinicius then capped a brilliant display with a stunning fifth goal. He drove into the box and blasted the ball in off the underside of the bar. The Bernabéu responded warmly after recent criticism of the Brazilian. Monaco pulled one back through Teze after a rare defensive error. Jude Bellingham restored the five-goal cushion late on, rounding the goalkeeper to score.
Mbappe finished with two goals and constant menace against familiar opponents. He now has 11 Champions League goals this season, more than any other player. Vinicius delivered one goal, two assists, and forced an own goal. Mastantuono impressed throughout and became one of Madrid’s youngest scorers in the competition. Valverde also stood out with two assists from right back.
Real scored six goals from chances created worth 3.96 expected goals. Monaco managed several efforts but lacked cutting edge in decisive moments with an xG of 1.55. Madrid’s front line combined fluently and punished every lapse. The result lifted Real to second in the league phase standings. They now sit on 15 points from seven matches.
The win leaves Real well placed to reach the last 16 directly. A positive result away at Benfica on 28 January would confirm a top eight finish. Avoiding the knockout playoff round remains the priority. Alvaro Arbeloa earned his first Champions League win in charge in emphatic fashion. Monaco remain 20th and must beat Juventus to keep their hopes alive.
