In his Champions League debut, Álvaro Arbeloa's Real Madrid faces Monaco, a team with an unpleasant history for the club. This match aims to restore peace at the Santiago Bernabéu after the public backlash against the players, who were whistled during the game against Levante. It is also a crucial step to secure a place in the top eight of the group stage, earning a direct ticket to the knockout rounds.
Real Madrid's recent improvement, which followed a crisis sparked by losing the Spanish Super Cup final to Barcelona and being eliminated from the Copa del Rey by a lower-division team like Albacete, will be tested against Monaco at the Bernabéu.
This is a reunion match for Kylian Mbappé with the team that launched him to stardom and where he first began to showcase his talents. The victory in the chaotic atmosphere of the Madrid stadium against Levante and Barcelona's subsequent stumble in Anoeta have changed the momentum for Real Madrid, which is now just one point behind the La Liga leaders and has the direct Champions League qualification within its grasp.
