Ruthless Real Madrid Thrash Monaco in Champions League Showdown

Kenya, January 21 2026 - Real Madrid delivered a statement performance in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, dismantling AS Monaco 6–1 at the Santiago Bernabéu to strengthen their bid for progression from the group stage. The emphatic win highlighted Madrid’s attacking firepower and silenced critics as they moved closer to securing a top-two finish with 15 points.

From the opening minutes, Madrid were in total control. Kylian Mbappé struck early to open the scoring in the 5th minute, finishing off a well-worked move following a Federico Valverde lay-off. The French forward, facing his former club, doubled the lead in the 26th minute with a composed finish after a low cross from Vinícius Júnior, giving the hosts a comfortable 2–0 advantage at half-time.

The onslaught continued after the break. Franco Mastantuono extended Madrid’s lead in the 51st minute with a clinical finish, capitalising on pressure from his teammates. Just four minutes later, Monaco’s Thilo Kehrer inadvertently turned a Vinícius cross into his own net to make it 4–0.

Vinícius Jr. then produced one of the night’s standout moments, weaving past multiple defenders before firing a spectacular strike into the top corner in the 63rd minute to make it 5–0. Monaco finally found a consolation goal when Jordan Teze fired home in the 72nd minute, but the response was short-lived. 

Jude Bellingham sealed the rout in the 80th minute, finishing from close range following an incisive pass from Valverde to complete the scoring.