The Santiago Bernabéu braces for another tense European night as Álvaro Arbeloa’s shaky stewardship of Real Madrid faces a crucial test against a struggling Monaco side in the Champions League league phase.
Tuesday’s encounter (8pm GMT) is anything but a foregone conclusion. Arbeloa’s reign began with the humiliation of a Copa del Rey exit to second tier Albacete, and though a 2-0 league win over Levante followed, it was played out to a soundtrack of furious whistles and protests directed at president Florentino Pérez and underperforming stars. The mood is toxic, and the pressure on the rookie manager is immense.
On paper, Madrid should coast. They sit 7th in the league phase table and need points to secure automatic qualification for the knockouts. Monaco, under curious interim boss Sébastien Pocognoli, are languishing in 19th despite just one loss. Their domestic form is dismal, with back to back 3-1 defeats in Ligue 1. But the Bernabéu’s fractured atmosphere is a great leveller.
“The fans have a right to express themselves,” a tight lipped Arbeloa said in Monday’s press conference. “Our job is to put on a performance that changes the tune.” He’ll be without the suspended Álvaro Carreras and long term absentees in defence, but welcomes back Kylian Mbappé, who came through the weekend unscathed. Rodrygo, however, misses out despite returning to training.
Monaco arrive with problems of their own. Key defender Wout Faes is ineligible for this stage, and they’re without AFCON winner Lamine Camara. The experienced duo of Eric Dier and Thilo Kehrer will likely anchor a defence tasked with stopping a Madrid front line featuring Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham, that has looked out of sync and short on confidence.
Prediction: This has all the makings of an ugly, nervy affair. Madrid’s individual quality should ultimately tell, especially against a Monaco side low on belief, but don’t expect a classic. The whistles will likely greet any misplaced pass, and the team’s fragile mentality will be tested as much as their football. Real Madrid 2-1 Monaco. A win that does little to calm the storm.
Key Stats:
Last Meeting: Monaco won 3-1 in the 2004 quarter-finals.
Madrid Form: WWLWW (All Comps)
Monaco Form: LWLWL (All Comps)
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