Real Madrid vs AS Monaco

The "Kylian Mbappé Derby" takes center stage at the Santiago Bernabéu tonight, Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Real Madrid welcomes AS Monaco for a critical Champions League league phase clash that marks a new era in the Spanish capital.

Kick-off is at 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET. Real Madrid currently sits in 7th place (12 points), while AS Monaco occupies 19th place (9 points). With only two matchdays remaining, both teams are fighting for a top-eight finish to secure direct entry into the Round of 16.

Match Information

Real Madrid: Life After Xabi Alonso

The biggest headline in Madrid is the managerial dugout. Following a shock exit from the Supercopa de España and a loss to Manchester City, Xabi Alonso parted ways with the club by mutual agreement on January 12. Club legend Álvaro Arbeloa has stepped in as head coach.

While Arbeloa’s tenure began with a humiliating Copa del Rey exit to second-tier Albacete, a weekend win over Levante has kept Los Blancos within one point of La Liga leaders Barcelona. Tonight marks Arbeloa's managerial debut in the Champions League.

Team News and Selection:

• Mbappé Reunion: Kylian Mbappé faces his former club in peak form, having scored 19 goals in 19 La Liga games this season. He has averaged a goal every 49 minutes in Europe this term.

• Suspension: Left-back Álvaro Carreras is suspended for this fixture.

• Injury Update: David Alaba and Éder Militão remain long-term absentees. Dani Carvajal is also sidelined.

• Predicted XI (4-3-3): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Fran García; Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Bellingham; Arda Güler, Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior.

AS Monaco: The Pocognoli Project

Monaco arrives in Madrid following their own managerial shake-up earlier this season, having replaced Adi Hütter with Belgian coach Sébastien Pocognoli. While they are unbeaten in their last five continental games, their domestic form has stuttered, currently sitting 9th in Ligue 1 after a 3–1 loss to Lorient on Friday.

Team News and Selection:

• Key Scorer: Ansu Fati, on loan from Barcelona, scored in their recent league outing and is expected to be a primary threat tonight.

• Absences: Folarin Balogun is out with a shoulder injury. Aleksandr Golovin is a doubt but has traveled with the squad.

• Predicted XI (3-4-1-2): Majecki; Kehrer, Salisu, Singo; Vanderson, Zakaria, Camara, Caio Henrique; Minamino; Ansu Fati, Embolo.

? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• Historic Rivalry: This is only the third competitive meeting between the clubs. Their last meeting was the famous 2003/04 quarter-final where Monaco eliminated Real Madrid on away goals (5–5 aggregate).

• Mbappé Factor: Mbappé has accounted for 69% of Real Madrid's Champions League goals this season (9 strikes).

• Bernabéu Form: Real Madrid has won their last three home games in La Liga but lost their last European home assignment to Manchester City (2–1).

• Monaco's Road Resilience: Despite their league struggles, Monaco has not lost an away game in the Champions League this season (W1, D2).

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

Arbeloa is expected to prioritize a high-pressing 4-3-3 to exploit Monaco’s back three. The link-up between Jude Bellingham and Mbappé will be vital to breaking down a physical Monaco midfield led by Denis Zakaria.

Monaco will likely play on the counter, utilizing the pace of Vanderson and the technical quality of Takumi Minamino. However, the "Bernabéu effect" and the individual brilliance of Mbappé usually prove decisive on these European nights.

Final Score Prediction: Real Madrid 3–1 AS Monaco